136 West 136th Street, Manhattan, NY 10030

The 4-unit, 3-story converted New Law tenement at 136 West 136th Street in Harlem, built in 1910 and currently owned by Joseph Jemal, has experienced persistent maintenance challenges over the past two years. Most notably, there has been recurring evidence of unsanitary conditions, with a recent mold complaint in October 2024 being particularly concerning given its emergency designation.

The building has also faced multiple issues with doors and windows, as documented in both 311 service requests and Housing Maintenance Code violations, including problems with self-closing doors at critical locations such as the basement and roof bulkhead. February 2024 saw a cluster of complaints related to various maintenance issues, including plumbing problems with bathtubs/showers, cabinet concerns, and pest infestations, though most of these inspections found no significant violations except for one instance involving a door/window issue.

The property has demonstrated ongoing challenges with rodent control, as evidenced by multiple inspections showing rat activity between 2022 and 2025, with the most recent inspection in June 2025 confirming continued activity despite previous bait applications and passed inspections. While the building has maintained a clean record regarding bedbug infestations over the past four years (2019-2023), with no reported cases in any of the four most recent annual filings, the persistent rodent issues and recurring maintenance complaints suggest ongoing challenges with building upkeep. The most recent violations from October 2024, which have been certified as corrected, involved requirements to refit fire-rated doors and address self-closing door issues, indicating concerns about safety and security systems in addition to general maintenance matters.