178 East 108th Street, Manhattan, NY 10029

The 4-story, 6-unit tenement building at 178 East 108th Street, owned by Julio Velez and constructed in 1910, has experienced several significant maintenance and safety issues in recent years. Most notably, there have been recurring problems with heat and hot water, including a recent complaint in November 2023 that was closed without inspection access, similar to a cooking gas complaint from August 2022.

The building's current violations include an open bedbug reporting requirement from April 2024, though previous annual reports from 2021-2023 showed no infestations. The property has a documented history of unsuccessful inspections related to illegal hotel room complaints in 2018-2019, where inspectors were unable to gain access to the premises. Of particular concern is a 2018 scaffolding safety violation with an associated $6,250 penalty for missing tie-ins, guardrails, and other safety features, along with a $5,000 violation for inadequate pedestrian protection from the sidewalk shed.

More recently, there is an active violation from September 2024 regarding the failure to file the 2023 external low-pressure inspection. The building has undergone multiple rodent inspections between 2022 and 2025, with recent inspections in May and June 2025 showing rat activity, though two compliance inspections were passed. While the building's bedbug reporting has been properly maintained in recent years, the persistent issues with heating systems, combined with the building's age and history of violations, suggest ongoing management challenges.