251 West 109th Street, Manhattan, NY 10025

This 5-story, 17-unit Old Law Tenement building at 251 West 109th Street, owned by Joshua Gotlib, has experienced numerous maintenance and quality-of-life issues throughout 2025, with particular concerns around rodent activity and appliance problems. The building has documented multiple rodent-related complaints between January 2025 and June 2025, with inspections consistently indicating rat activity, including three rat bait applications in early 2025 and two compliance inspections showing ongoing rodent presence. There have also been recurring issues with gas/electric ranges, with four separate complaints in 2025 alone, though inspectors were repeatedly unable to gain access for proper evaluation.

Other significant concerns include multiple heat and hot water complaints in early 2025 (both for individual apartments and the entire building), two incidents of chemical vapors/odors requiring DOHMH attention in February 2025, and an attempted inspection for heat/hot water issues that could not be completed due to access problems. The building's historical records reveal a pattern of maintenance challenges, particularly in apartment 2E, where multiple violations were documented in 2023 related to pest infestation (roaches), peeling paint, and various repairs needed. The property underwent scrutiny in 2018-2019 for unauthorized modifications, with several Department of Buildings violations related to illegal conversions and work without permits, particularly concerning the cellar space.

These violations included failure to comply with vacate orders and multiple environmental control board violations regarding tenant protection plans and construction rights. More recent inspections have generally shown regular compliance with rat remediation and bedbug prevention protocols, as evidenced by zero infested units reported in the annual bedbug filings from 2019 through 2024. However, the persistent nature of the rodent issues and recent appliance/access concerns suggest ongoing challenges with building maintenance and tenant access for inspections.