16 East 109th Street, Manhattan, NY 10029

16 East 109th Street is a 5-story, 11-unit Old Law Tenement building located in East Harlem, built in 1920 and currently owned by Lamont Baker. The property has experienced recurrent heating and hot water issues throughout 2025, with seven separate complaints documented between March and May, most involving the entire building, though some inspection attempts were unsuccessful. A heavy water leak was reported in May 2025. The building has faced maintenance challenges over recent years, including rodent infestations, particularly in Apartment 1C as of 2024, requiring multiple violations to be issued and subsequently resolved.

The building's hot water system has been a recurring concern, with several complaints and violations recorded between 2022-2025. While the property has passed regular rodent inspections in 2025, 2024, and earlier, it had recorded rat activity in its June 2023 inspection. The building has maintained compliance with bedbug reporting requirements between 2020-2023, with no reported infestations during those periods. A building permit was issued in March 2019 for unspecified work. Recent housing maintenance code violations include unsatisfactory self-closing doors in 2023, requiring correction.

The building has experienced various maintenance issues that affect resident comfort and habitability. The most pressing ongoing concern appears to be the intermittent heating and hot water problems, which have persisted through multiple months and required both tenant complaints and HPD intervention. While recent rodent inspections have shown passing results, the presence of rodents in 2024 and historical complaints suggest this remains a periodic concern. The property has also faced challenges with maintenance access, as evidenced by multiple HPD inspection attempts in 2025 where access to units was not granted, though some violations were confirmed through alternate inspections. The building's age and status as an Old Law Tenement are consistent with its historical character and regulatory requirements under NYC housing maintenance codes.