579 West 204th Street, Manhattan, NY 10034

The 6-story, 54-unit residential building at 579 West 204th Street in Inwood, owned by Mark Scharfman and constructed in 1920 as a New Law Tenement, has experienced several concerning issues in recent years, particularly regarding heat and hot water systems. Between January and April 2025 alone, there were multiple emergency complaints about heating issues throughout the building, with several cases where HPD was unable to gain access for inspection. An ongoing electrical lighting issue was reported in April 2025 and remains open.

Building maintenance challenges are evident from violations documented in 2024-2025, including a pattern of heat and hot water complaints, some requiring emergency response from HPD. The building also faced facade maintenance violations in 2024, with the Department of Buildings issuing penalties for failure to maintain the exterior facade, citing spalling bricks and cracked windows. Interior issues have been documented primarily in units 3E and 3G, where violations from September 2024 show problems including mold conditions, plumbing fixture defects, and general maintenance concerns.

While recent rodent inspections from 2022-2025 have passed, there were instances of rat activity noted in 2022. The building has maintained a clean record for bedbugs, with no infestations reported in the past four years of inspection data (2021-2025). The property owner is currently facing an active violation for failing to file required technical reports (FISP Cycle 9C) by the February 2024 deadline, and there are several open Class B violations related to interior conditions that require attention.