2866 Fredrick Douglass Bl, Manhattan, NY 10039

The 1920-built, 6-story, 25-unit tenement at 2866 Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem, currently owned by Steven Griffenberg, has experienced several significant maintenance issues in recent years, particularly in 2024-2025. Most recently, in April 2025, there were complaints about appliances (electric/gas range, refrigerator) and unsanitary conditions (sewage), with violations noted for the refrigerator issue. Multiple housing violations have been documented, including a significant cluster in late 2024 involving apartment 17 with problems related to smoke/CO detectors, bathroom tiles, and plumbing fixtures. The building has faced recurring appliance issues, particularly with refrigerators, as evidenced by multiple complaints in 2025 and earlier.

Notable environmental concerns include a 2024 violation regarding missing stucco on the 6th floor facade and an obstruction of the fire escape by a barbecue grill, both with associated penalties. The building has shown variable compliance with rodent control measures, with multiple instances of "Rat Activity" noted in inspections throughout 2023-2025. Boiler-related issues have been documented, with earlier complaints in 2019 regarding defective/inoperative equipment. The property has also experienced periodic inspection access issues, as seen in multiple complaint records, and has several active violations related to pressure system inspections that remain unresolved as of 2025.

The building's maintenance history shows a pattern of recurring issues affecting resident comfort and safety, particularly regarding appliances, sanitation, and building systems. Inspection records indicate an ongoing need for active management response to maintenance concerns, with varying outcomes in terms of violation resolution. While there have been some successful hazard abatement measures (e.g., mold and water leak issues in 2025), many complaints have resulted in violations that require owner correction within specified timeframes. The property's age and building class designation as a "NEW LAW TENEMENT" suggest historical context for some maintenance challenges, though the current management's response to these issues appears to be a mixed record of prompt attention to emergencies and slower resolution of routine maintenance items.