286 West 151st Street, Manhattan, NY 10039

The 6-story, 18-unit New Law Tenement building at 286 West 151st Street in Harlem, built in 1920 and currently owned by James Monroe, has a significant history of water-related issues and heating concerns over recent years. Between 2022 and 2025, there have been multiple complaints and violations regarding heat and hot water systems, with at least four documented instances of heat/hot water complaints in 2022-2024 where HPD was either unable to gain access to inspect or where violations were issued.

The building is currently facing active violations as of December 2024 in apartment 12, including issues with carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, water leaks, and temperature violations exceeding the maximum allowable 130°F at plumbing fixtures. There are also outstanding DOB violations from 2023 for failure to file external low-pressure inspections for multiple years (2019-2022). Additional maintenance concerns include several water leak incidents in 2024 (most recently in December), and issues with doors and windows requiring inspection and correction.

A notable event in August 2022 involved multiple emergency complaints including unsafe conditions related to a fire escape and a door/window issue. While the building has passed several rodent inspections between 2018 and 2025, their frequency suggests ongoing monitoring of pest control measures. The property's maintenance record shows a pattern of reactive rather than proactive responses to safety and comfort issues, with multiple instances where HPD could not gain access to inspect complaints, and recent violations indicating ongoing concerns with basic building systems and safety equipment.