605 West 142nd Street, Manhattan, NY 10031

The 6-story, 40-unit building at 605 West 142nd Street in Hamilton Heights, owned by Ken Gerstenfeld, has a notable history of maintenance and compliance issues since its 1912 construction as a New Law Tenement. Most recently, in 2024-2025, the building experienced multiple significant maintenance concerns, including recurring pest infestations, water leaks, and plumbing issues. The property has had consistent rodent inspections in recent years, with June 2025 being the last inspection showing a passed result. A cluster of emergency maintenance requests in July 2024 revealed problems with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, plumbing fixtures, and various interior surfaces requiring attention.

The building's violation history is particularly concerning, with several active and unresolved violations as of 2022 regarding swarm conditions and unsafe reporting. Apartment 3 has documented violations from July 2024, including issues with mold, water leaks, and pest infestations, though many of these were subsequently marked as resolved. The property has undergone multiple inspections between 2016 and 2025, consistently passing rodent inspections, but showing recurring problems with various building systems. While there have been some construction projects and improvements attempted, including a permit issued in March 2020, the building's maintenance history suggests ongoing challenges with building systems and timely repairs.

The building's recent history has shown improvements in pest control management, as evidenced by the absence of bedbug reports in the last three annual filings (2022-2024). However, the persistence of plumbing issues, including multiple complaints about bathtubs/showers and toilets, indicates ongoing maintenance challenges. The property's environmental control board violations from 2018-2021 suggest historical concerns with building envelope maintenance and safety compliance, though many of these have been resolved. The building's age and history as a New Law Tenement are reflected in the variety of maintenance issues that have emerged over the years, particularly relating to basic building systems and interior finishes.