139 West 116th Street, Manhattan, NY 10026

The 5-story building at 139 West 116th Street in Harlem, owned by Michael Padernacht, has been in operation since 1920 and contains 10 units. The property has experienced recurring rodent issues, with the most recent 311 complaint in July 2024, and multiple rodent inspection failures and rat activity reports throughout 2023-2025, including failed compliance inspections in June 2024 and October 2024.

The building has also faced significant maintenance challenges, particularly in 2018, when violations were documented related to electrical systems,including wiring and power outages, as well as ceiling and plaster issues. Notably, there are currently open violations from 2018 concerning the need to repair various conditions in Apartment 5, including issues with the carbon monoxide detector, smoke detector, plaster surfaces, and a water leak affecting the first-floor public hall. The property has active Department of Buildings violations as of June 2023 for failure to file external low-pressure inspections for 2019, 2020, and 2021.

While recent bedbug reports from 2021-2024 show zero infested or re-infested units, the building continues to grapple with rodent management challenges, evidenced by multiple inspection failures. The most recent violation, certified in April 2024, requires submission of an annual bedbug report, though previous filings indicate no active infestations in the past three reporting periods. The building's maintenance history suggests ongoing challenges with both pest management and basic building systems, particularly in Apartment 5, where multiple open violations remain relating to various essential safety features and maintenance issues.