517 West 161st Street, Manhattan, NY 10032

The 6-story New Law Tenement at 517 West 161st Street in Washington Heights, built in 1926 and currently owned by Douglas Peterson, has experienced several significant maintenance issues in recent years. Most notably, in late 2024 and early 2025, there were multiple heat and hot water-related complaints, including an open heat/hot water complaint from October 2024 and an emergency heat/hot water complaint from February 2025 that was closed shortly after. The building has also faced recurring plumbing and water-related problems, with six documented incidents between 2023-2025, including issues with water supply, sink basins, leaks, and damp spots, some requiring HPD violations to be issued.

The most recent inspection in October 2024 resulted in several open violations, including issues with a defective sink cabinet, problematic bathtub waste line, water leak ceiling, and other maintenance concerns in Apartment 55, while additional violations were issued regarding self-closing doors and balcony fire escape maintenance. Historical records show the building has had consistent rodent inspection compliance over the past decade, passing all inspections between 2016 and 2024. While there have been multiple bedbug reports from 2019 to present, most recent filings from 2022-2023 indicate no current infestations.

The property has experienced various other maintenance issues, including sanitary concerns in 2023 involving mold and pests, though many of these complaints were eventually resolved or closed. Two significant violations from 2019 regarding boiler inspection and elevator defects were ultimately dismissed in 2021. The building's maintenance history suggests ongoing challenges with basic systems like heating and plumbing, though recent rodent compliance and bedbug eradication efforts indicate some successful pest management.