617 West 144th Street, Manhattan, NY 10031

The 5-story, 20-unit tenement building at 617 West 144th Street in Hamilton Heights, owned by Simon Zar, was constructed in 1905 and has faced ongoing maintenance challenges in recent years. Most notably, the property has experienced persistent rodent issues, with the latest inspections in 2025 showing rat activity in both March and April, following similar findings in 2022 and 2024. The building underwent multiple inspections in December 2023, resulting in several violations across various categories including plumbing (basin/sink), electrical lighting, and issues with walls, floors, and doors/windows.

The property received substantial attention in April 2024, with inspections revealing significant infestations of both mice and roaches in apartment 1F, which were reportedly addressed by May 2024. Additional violations were documented during a May 2024 inspection, prompting requirements to replace several glass panes with standard wire glass at various landing levels, along with necessary skylight repairs. More recent developments include a March 2025 rodent complaint that resulted in confirmed violations requiring follow-up inspections.

The building's maintenance history shows some inconsistency in addressing basic upkeep, with multiple violations recorded for issues like bell/buzzer/intercom systems, paint/plaster conditions, and various structural elements, though many have been subsequently resolved. The property has maintained a clean record regarding bedbug infestations, with all annual filings since 2021 showing zero affected units. Despite the ongoing pest management challenges, there have been several successful compliance inspections, indicating some efforts to address the building's maintenance issues, though the recurring nature of both rodent and pest complaints suggests this remains an area requiring continued attention.