170 West 109th Street, Manhattan, NY 10025

The 5-story, 15-unit Old Law Tenement at 170 West 109th Street in the Upper West Side, owned by David Zahabian and built in 1910, has experienced significant maintenance issues over the past two years. Most notably, there have been recurring heat and hot water problems, with three complaints in 2025 alone (January, March, and May) where HPD was either able to verify corrections or was unable to gain access for inspection. Multiple emergencies were reported in February 2025, including issues with carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, door problems, and mold.

The building has also faced water-related challenges, with three complaints in late 2024 regarding slow leaks, unsanitary conditions, and electrical issues, though inspections in October 2024 found no housing law violations for water leakage and unsanitary conditions. The building's maintenance history reveals several concerning patterns. In November 2024, violations were identified in Apartment 1R regarding missing carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, defective self-closing doors, and a roach infestation, though the latter was marked as an open violation. Apartment 1E was cited in August 2024 for multiple electrical issues and bathroom maintenance concerns.

The building has undergone multiple inspections for rodent activity throughout 2023-2025, with several instances of bait application noted in Spring 2023, though recent inspections in 2024-2025 have passed. Interestingly, the building has maintained a record of no bedbug infestations reported in the past three filing periods (2022-2025). While there have been several complaints regarding unauthorized work in the building, inspections in 2022 and 2023 found no violations at the time of inspection. The overall picture suggests ongoing challenges with building systems and maintenance, particularly regarding heat/hot water, safety systems, and pest control, though some improvements appear to have been made based on follow-up inspections and corrections.