1536 Amsterdam Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10031

The 6-story, 23-unit residential tenement building at 1536 Amsterdam Avenue in Hamilton Heights, owned by Maximo Arias, has experienced recurring heating and plumbing issues over the past two years. Most notably, there have been multiple complaints about lack of heat and hot water affecting the entire building throughout 2024 and into 2025, with complaints continuing into June 2025. The building has also faced persistent water-related problems, including a recent slow leak reported in June 2025, and a heavier flow leak in August 2024.

These moisture issues appear to have affected Unit 5 specifically, which had multiple violations issued in 2023-2024 for water-related problems, including mold, defective plastered surfaces, and water leaks in various rooms and areas. The building has undergone three tenant safety inspections between 2023-2024, with no violations noted in October 2024 or August 2024, though a prior inspection in March 2024 revealed issues with self-closing doors and building entrance locks that were subsequently addressed. An Environmental Control Board violation was issued in August 2023 concerning exterior brick and mortar maintenance, which has since been resolved. The property has maintained a generally clean record regarding bedbugs, with no reported infestations in the past three years, though there were two documented cases in 2020-2021.

Rodent inspections have shown mixed results, with a "Passed" status in June 2025 following an initial "Rat Activity" detection in May 2025, indicating ongoing pest management challenges that require monitoring. The building's history suggests recurring maintenance challenges, particularly regarding building systems such as heating and water infrastructure. While many previous violations have been addressed and closed, the persistence of recent heating and plumbing issues indicates ongoing maintenance requirements. The property has undergone regular housing inspections and has shown compliance with most basic housing maintenance codes, though the recent patterns of service requests suggest attention to building systems may still be necessary.