705 West 170th Street, Manhattan, NY 10032

The 5-story, 20-unit residential building at 705 West 170th Street in Washington Heights, owned by Melanie Martin and constructed in 1910, has experienced persistent maintenance and safety issues over the past year. Most notably, the building has an ongoing rodent infestation problem, as indicated by multiple 311 complaints and rat inspections throughout 2023-2025 showing consistent rat activity, with the most recent inspection in April 2025 confirming this condition. There have been significant plumbing and heating system issues, including multiple emergency service requests in June 2025 for water supply problems and heavy water leaks, along with violations regarding hot water supply in apartments 1 and 33.

The building has also faced structural challenges, with Department of Buildings violations indicating serious exterior facade problems, including spalling bricks and decaying mortar, particularly in the east courtyard area, as well as issues with the rooftop bulkhead. Recent inspections and complaints reveal multiple areas of concern including unsanitary conditions related to garbage storage, as shown in several HPD complaints from June 2025. The building's safety systems have been under scrutiny, with violations recorded for missing smoke detectors and carbon monoxide devices in apartment 4.

Emergency Housing Maintenance Code complaints from June 2025 included issues with doors, flooring, and various plumbing fixtures. The property has a history of failed to certify correction on immediately hazardous violations, with active Environmental Control Board violations related to building maintenance and safety requirements, including an obstructed exit passageway and failure to address facade decay. While the building has undergone some inspections and enforcement actions, including multiple HPD and DOB inspections, many violations remain open or were recently issued, indicating ongoing maintenance challenges.