140 West 109th Street, Manhattan, NY 10025

The 5-story, 10-unit building at 140 West 109th Street in the Upper West Side, owned by Joshua Gotlib and constructed in 1910, has experienced numerous maintenance issues in recent years, with the most pressing concerns being recurring heat and hot water problems. Between January 2024 and March 2025, there were three separate building-wide complaints about heat and hot water failures, all classified as emergencies, though inspectors often faced access issues that prevented proper verification of the conditions.

The building has also had ongoing plumbing issues, with multiple complaints about bathtub/shower and sink problems, as well as a persistent rodent infestation problem evidenced by multiple rat activity inspections in late 2023 and early 2024, despite some inspections passing and bait applications being deployed. Apartment 2E has been the subject of several violations, including issues with its door/window hardware, security systems, and safety equipment like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

The building's history shows a pattern of maintenance challenges, including recurring heat problems, plumbing issues, and pest control needs. While there appears to have been some improvement in bedbug management over the past three years, with no reported infestations since late 2018, the building still grapples with various maintenance and safety compliance concerns. Notably, there are two open violations from 2021 relating to door issues and pest infestation in apartment 4E, and multiple service requests have been closed due to inspectors being unable to gain access for verification.