2038 5th Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10035

2038 5th Avenue is a 4-story, 7-unit residential building in Harlem, built in 1910 and currently owned by Jonathan Ismaili. The building has experienced persistent heating and hot water issues, with multiple emergency complaints in December 2024 about these building-wide problems. There are currently active violations related to heat supply in apartment 3F, along with various other maintenance issues including window guard deficiencies, carbon monoxide detector problems, and a broken marble door saddle in the bathroom as of December 2024. The property has a history of plumbing and water-related problems, with recent complaints about cooking gas and multiple heating system issues.

In terms of building safety, there is an active Environmental Control Board violation regarding an improperly installed AC unit above the sidewalk from 2022, which carries a $1,250 penalty. The building has undergone multiple rodent inspections in recent years, with some showing rat activity in 2024, though recent inspections in 2025 have passed. Fortunately, there have been no documented bedbug infestations in the past five years, and the building maintains compliance with regular bedbug reporting requirements. The property has also faced issues with heating system access, as documented in several 311 complaints where inspectors could not gain entry to perform necessary checks.

The building's recent history shows a concentration of maintenance issues primarily related to heating systems and plumbing. While some violations have been resolved or closed, including various repairs in apartment 3F, there are still outstanding violations as of the latest inspection date. The building's management has faced challenges maintaining consistent heat and hot water supply, particularly evident through multiple emergency complaints in late 2024. Past concerns about illegal conversions and hotel room usage in the building were documented between 2019 and 2022, though those complaints are now closed. While the building has experienced periodic pest control challenges as indicated by the rodent inspections, recent inspections have shown improvement with passed results in 2025.