1996 3rd Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10029

The 6-unit, 4-story New Law Tenement building at 1996 3rd Avenue in East Harlem, owned by Huichen Wu and constructed in 1938, has experienced several maintenance issues over recent years, with the most significant concerns being water-related problems. The building has had multiple documented water leak incidents between 2018 and 2021, including complaints of heavy flow, slow leaks, and damp spots, with some resulting in Housing Maintenance Code violations.

Of particular note was a building-wide heat and hot water failure in December 2021, though this was reportedly resolved within a day. The property has also been subject to various interior maintenance issues, including problems with paint and plaster work, particularly in the fourth-floor apartment 4E, where multiple violations were recorded in 2020 related to ceiling repair and water leakage concerns. Recent compliance records show improved building conditions, with regular rodent inspections from 2022 through 2025 all passing, and no bedbug infestations reported in the last four annual filings.

The building is currently facing one active Department of Buildings violation from June 2023 regarding the failure to file the 2020 external low-pressure inspection, which remains unresolved as of the latest available data. While the building has had numerous maintenance issues over the years, recent records suggest active management of pest control and compliance with bedbug reporting requirements. The property has shown some improvement in maintenance response times, with most recent complaints being addressed more promptly, though historical records show some periods of recurring maintenance issues, particularly during 2020-2021.