2319 1st Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10035

2319 1st Avenue is a 5-story, 18-unit residential building located in East Harlem and owned by Alexander Berkovitch. Built in 1900, this old law tenement has experienced recurring maintenance issues over the past few years, with the most notable ongoing concern being inadequate heat and hot water. In early 2025, multiple complaints were filed about heat/hot water issues, both building-wide and in individual apartments, with at least one complaint being part of a series of similar reports dating back to January 2023.

The building has also faced significant pest issues, particularly during 2021-2022, with violations issued for mouse and roach infestations in Apartment 4B. Additional complaints from 2022-2024 include problems with an unsanitary condition related to pests, though recent inspections conducted in 2023-2025 have consistently passed rodent inspections. The building's maintenance history shows a pattern of unaddressed or recurring issues, particularly concerning heat and pest management.

While there have been some improvements, such as recent passed rodent inspections, the recurring nature of heat/hot water complaints and the historical prevalence of pest issues (including a documented case in 2023, with one infested unit reported, though this was marked as eradicated) suggests ongoing challenges with building maintenance. The property has also experienced some access issues for inspections, as seen in multiple HPD and DOHMH cases, where inspectors were unable to gain entry to verify reported conditions. The most recent bedbug reporting period (2024-2025) shows no current infestations, marking an improvement in this area.