512 West 156th Street, Manhattan, NY 10032

The 20-unit, 5-story tenement building at 512 West 156th Street in Washington Heights, owned by Martha Gomez and constructed in 1908, has experienced persistent maintenance issues, particularly regarding heating systems. In the first half of 2025 alone, there have been multiple heat/hot water complaints, including building-wide outages in March and January, as well as individual apartment hot water issues.

The building has also faced significant maintenance challenges in the past year, with open violations noted in apartments 31 and 52 as of late 2024, including problems with carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, and water temperature control in apartment 52. The property has documented multiple boiler-related complaints and inspections from 2022 through 2025, though most were found to have no violations upon inspection. Recent inspections and service requests indicate ongoing infrastructure concerns, including electrical problems, window issues, and a December 2024 plumbing complaint.

The building's historical record shows past violations related to fire safety systems and unauthorized construction work in 2019, which resulted in several Environmental Control Board violations. While the property has maintained a good record regarding bedbug infestations (zero reported cases in recent years) and has passed multiple rodent inspections from 2022 through 2024, the recurring pattern of heating system failures and various maintenance issues suggests ongoing challenges with building systems and infrastructure reliability. The Department of Buildings has documented several instances of inspectors being unable to gain access for inspections or having their inspections hindered, which complicates the resolution of identified issues.