853 St Nicholas Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10031

853 St. Nicholas Avenue is a 6-story, 24-unit Old Law Tenement building located in Hamilton Heights and owned by Peter Hungerford. Built in 1903, the property has experienced numerous maintenance and safety issues in recent years.

As of July 2025, there are open emergency complaints with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) regarding ceiling and floor conditions, and active Environmental Control Board (ECB) violations concerning scaffolding safety and obstructed exit passageways resulting in significant fines. The building has a documented history of pest problems, with multiple Housing Maintenance Code complaints related to rodents and unsanitary conditions between 2023-2025, though recent inspections in 2025 indicate continued rat activity despite bait application efforts. The property has faced recurring issues with building maintenance and safety compliance, including multiple violations related to façade inspections and safety protocols.

Recent inspection results show persistent rodent activity, and although there have been no bedbug infestations reported in the past three years, the building has experienced various maintenance challenges. These include multiple violations for floor repairs needed in apartments (e.g., damaged kitchen tiles in Apartment 104, floor issues in Apartments 204 and 502), scaffolding safety concerns, and deficiencies in garbage/recycling storage. The building's recent history suggests ongoing challenges with maintenance response times and compliance with housing regulations, particularly regarding scaffold safety and pest control measures, despite having temporarily resolved various maintenance issues through violations and fines.