2245 1st Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10029

2245 1st Avenue is a four-story, three-unit residential building in East Harlem, built in 1900 and currently owned by Nick Arvanitis. The property has experienced recurring food safety issues over the past two years, with multiple incidents reported between late 2023 and 2025, including three food poisoning complaints (two currently in progress or recently closed), and several health department complaints related to food spoilage and pest issues.

Recent rodent control inspections reflect mixed results, with the building passing some inspections while failing others due to "Other Reasons" and documented rat activity in February 2024 and February 2023. The building has maintained a clean record for bedbug infestations, with all annual reports from 2019-2025 showing zero affected units or eradication efforts required. Looking further back, the property has a history of maintenance issues that required intervention from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), including complaints about the intercom system in 2020 and unsanitary conditions related to pests.

All of these prior complaints were ultimately closed, though inspectors were unable to gain access to the building for evaluation in some instances. The building's food safety challenges have persisted into 2025, with multiple health department complaints documented this year alone, including issues with bare hands contacting food and general food establishment violations, though these appear to be focused on a commercial space rather than the residential units. While the building has passed the majority of its rodent inspections, the pattern of failed inspections and documented rat activity suggests ongoing challenges with pest management.