144 West 109th Street, Manhattan, NY 10025

The five-story, 15-unit tenement building at 144 West 109th Street, owned by Rafael Sassouni and constructed in 1920, has experienced several significant maintenance and safety issues in recent years. Of particular concern is the building's recent history of electrical problems, including a power outage in July 2023 that required HPD intervention, and multiple violations identified in December 2024 involving unauthorized electrical work in apartment #2E, for which a $1,600 penalty was imposed.

The property has also faced challenges with rodent infestations, with documented rat activity in 2022 and 2023, though recent inspections in 2024 have shown improved conditions, passing the July 2024 inspection. The building's maintenance record shows some positive developments, including consistent bedbug reporting compliance since 2019, with no infested units reported in the past several years.

However, the property management faced issues with unauthorized modifications, as evidenced by the December 2024 violations regarding an unpermitted full-height partition in apartment #2E and an obstructed fire escape. The building's electrical system has shown particular vulnerability, with the most recent power outage occurring shortly after a February 2023 electrical violation was issued, though this particular violation was ultimately closed without penalties. Regular rodent control measures were implemented in 2023, including multiple bait applications, and the building's overall rodent situation appears to have improved, with the most recent inspection in July 2024 showing no active infestation.