2819 8th Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10039

Located in Harlem, 2819 8th Avenue is a 7-story, 44-unit Old Law Tenement building constructed in 1910 and currently owned by Craig Livingston. The building has experienced persistent elevator issues, with multiple complaints about the single-device elevator being out of service or lacking alternate service throughout 2024-2025, resulting in active ECB violations totaling over $25,000 in penalties. Recent inspections in May 2025 revealed several concerning issues, including plumbing problems (with violations) affecting toilets, sinks, and bathtubs, electrical problems with lighting and outlets, and a smoke detector violation, though some complaints were found not to violate housing laws.

Unit 4E has documented violations from December 2024 related to water leaks, mold, and electrical issues, while Unit 5E has violations concerning electrical supply, door issues, and plumbing problems. The building has faced challenges with water leaks, heavy flow issues, and rodent activity, as evidenced by multiple complaints and inspections between 2024 and 2025. The property has several open housing maintenance code violations as of 2025, including multiple active ECB violations related to elevator problems, emergency phone inoperability, and other maintenance issues.

The building's infrastructure appears to be struggling, with ongoing elevator reliability concerns being particularly noteworthy given the building's age and elevator dependency. An inspection in November 2024 reported building shaking, though no violation was warranted at the time of inspection. While the building has maintained a bedbug-free record between 2021 and 2025, the persistent maintenance issues and multiple open violations suggest ongoing challenges with building systems and infrastructure.