24 East 109th Street, Manhattan, NY 10029

The five-story, 15-unit tenement building at 24 East 109th Street in East Harlem, constructed in 1920 and currently owned by Lamont Baker, has encountered several significant maintenance issues in recent years. Most notably, as of June 2025, there are multiple active complaints with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) regarding lighting, wall conditions, flooring, and a water leak. The building has experienced persistent electrical problems, with three open lighting complaints recorded in June 2025, following a pattern of electrical issues that includes a no-lighting complaint from March 2025 that was closed due to inspection access issues. There are also ongoing concerns about pests, with an unsanitary condition complaint related to pests from March 2025 still unresolved.

The property has faced multiple safety and maintenance challenges over the past two years. In 2024-2025, there has been ongoing rat activity, with multiple inspections showing evidence of rodent presence despite bait being applied throughout 2025. Several violations remain active regarding the failure to file external low-pressure inspection reports for 2021-2023. Previous inspections in 2023 revealed multiple violations in Apartment 2B, including issues with plaster surfaces, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and a mouse infestation, though these were categorized as Class B violations.

The building's systems have experienced various emergencies, including a heat/hot water complaint for the entire building in December 2024 which was resolved, and emergency door-related complaints in January 2025 that were closed. The property has also undergone various repairs and maintenance work in recent years, as evidenced by multiple permits issued between 2018-2020 for plumbing and electrical work. While bedbug reports from 2020 through 2024 show no documented infestations during those periods, the recent pest complaints suggest ongoing maintenance challenges. The building's inspection and violation history indicate a pattern of delayed repairs and multiple instances of HPD inspectors being unable to gain access for required inspections, as seen in several closed complaints.