2334 1st Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10035

The 9-unit, 5-story residential building at 2334 1st Avenue in East Harlem, owned by Luis Vargas, has experienced significant heating and hot water system issues throughout 2025, with multiple emergency complaints and violations documented between April and June 2025. During this period alone, there were at least nine separate heat/hot water-related complaints affecting the entire building, with several violations issued though some complaints were marked as duplicates or required further inspections.

The building has also faced ongoing challenges with its heating system, as evidenced by two active violations from 2023-2024 regarding failure to file the required 2020 and 2023 external low-pressure inspection reports. Prior to the current heating issues, several maintenance concerns were documented in 2023 and 2024. These included violations in apartment 3A related to mold (August 2024), multiple safety system deficiencies (including smoke and carbon monoxide detector issues in April 2023), and various maintenance needs such as a broken bathroom flushing apparatus and defective kitchen cabinet (January 2023).

The building had experienced some water-related problems as evidenced by a sewage water violation in the boiler room (November 2024). While bedbug reports from 2022-2025 consistently showed no infestations, and rodent inspections in 2023-2025 generally passed, there were notable failed rodent inspections in early 2024 and recurring maintenance violations suggest ongoing issues with building systems and infrastructure. The property has a long history as a 1900-built Old Law Tenement, with various ownership changes and compliance requirements typical of historic New York City buildings.