1961 Amsterdam Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10032

Situated in Washington Heights, 1961 Amsterdam Avenue is a five-story, 8-unit old law tenement building constructed in 1900 and currently owned by Freddy Leka. The building has experienced persistent maintenance issues, particularly regarding heat and hot water systems, with multiple complaints documented throughout 2024 and 2025, including emergency complaints in March and December 2024, and January 2025. Recent inspection activity shows ongoing problems, with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene currently investigating a food contamination complaint from June 2025, and multiple open door-related complaints from May 2025.

The building has a concerning pattern of electrical and heating system failures, with power outages reported in March 2025 and previously in March 2024. The property has faced various safety and maintenance challenges in recent years, including a 2021 open violation regarding lead paint hazards in apartment 5E, and multiple instances of rodent activity requiring bait application throughout 2024-2025. Hazardous conditions have been documented in individual units, including a 2022 violation for mold in apartment 4W's bathroom.

Building systems have been a recurring source of complaints, with tenants frequently reporting issues that require multiple follow-ups by housing authorities. The building's compliance with basic safety requirements has been questioned, with violations including non-functional smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in apartment 2E (2023), though these were certified as corrected by June 2023. While the building has maintained a zero-report history for bedbug infestations since 2020, the frequency of other maintenance issues suggests ongoing challenges with basic building systems and infrastructure.