509 West 159th Street, Manhattan, NY 10032

The 22-unit, six-story New Law Tenement building at 509 West 159th Street in Washington Heights, owned by Mariel Arismendy, has experienced several maintenance and repair issues in recent years, particularly focused on apartment 22. As of early 2025, there are open complaints regarding unsanitary pest conditions, and multiple completed complaints from January 2025 related to ceiling and wall paint issues. Notable violations from September 2024 in apartment 22 include problems with plaster surfaces, an infestation of mice, a leaking bathroom ceiling, defective smoke detector, electrical lighting fixture issues, and problems with safety devices such as carbon monoxide detectors.

The building has shown recurrent maintenance challenges throughout 2024-2025, with multiple HPD inspection attempts that were unable to be completed. Earlier issues from November 2024 included complaints about plumbing, refrigerator problems, no lighting, and mold, many of which were similarly placed but left unresolved due to incomplete inspections. The property has maintained a rodent management program, with the most recent inspections showing "Passed" results in October 2024 and December 2023, though there were periods of rodent activity noted between mid-2022 and late-2022.

The building's history shows consistent reporting of maintenance issues between 2022 and 2025, covering various systems and spaces including plumbing, electrical, and sanitation. However, there have been no reported bedbug infestations in the past five years according to the DOHMH's pest reporting system, and the building's 311 complaint history suggests ongoing but typically resolved maintenance issues, with most recent concerns centering on apartment 22. Recent violations and complaints indicate potential challenges with timely resolution of maintenance issues, as not all inspection attempts have been completed or resulted in clear resolutions.