538 West 145th Street, Manhattan, NY 10031

538 West 145th Street is a 6-story, 44-unit New Law tenement building built in 1905, currently owned by Tim Ziss. The building has experienced recurring heating issues, particularly evident in early 2025 when eight separate complaints about heat and hot water were reported, three of which were classified as emergencies. Periodic elevator service problems have been documented over the years, with multiple complaints between 2019 and 2021 regarding single device operation and non-compliance issues, including a 2021 violation for failure to install door lock monitoring, though recent inspections indicate these issues may have been addressed.

The property has several open violations from 2023-2024, including deficiencies in fire safety systems, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in Apartment 3B, and ongoing problems with elevator door systems documented in Environmental Control Board violations, with penalties totaling over $4,000. The building has undergone various inspections related to pest control, with most recent rodent inspections in 2024-2025 passing, though there were signs of rat activity noted in early 2023 and 2022. Apartment 5A has multiple open violations from 2024 related to water leaks, floor damage, and pest infestation.

Notably, the building has maintained a consistent record of bedbug-free status in recent years, with only two infested units reported in 2020. Multiple permits were issued in early 2025, suggesting recent maintenance or improvement work, though specific details of the work are not provided in the available data. The building's recent history shows a pattern of heating system problems, elevator service challenges, and pest control issues, though there have been improvements in certain areas such as bedbug management and rodent control.