170 Vermilyea Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10034

The 5-story, 40-unit New Law Tenement at 170 Vermilyea Avenue in Inwood, owned by Esther Kohen and built in 1915, has experienced ongoing maintenance challenges and safety concerns over the past two years. Most recently in May 2025, multiple maintenance issues were reported, including wall and ceiling problems, unsanitary conditions potentially involving pests, and issues with the building's bell/buzzer/intercom system, though HPD was unable to complete inspections for several of these complaints. Between late 2024 and mid-2025, the building underwent various repairs and addressed multiple violations, including mold and pest infestations in apartments 5D and 5F, water leaks in apartment 2B, and multiple issues with door/window frames.

The building was found to have rodent activity in early 2025, though passed subsequent inspections. The property has maintained regular bedbug inspections, with no reported infestations since 2018-2019. There are two active Department of Buildings violations related to energy efficiency from 2019 and 2021, though most past violations have been resolved. The building's maintenance history shows recurring issues with walls, ceilings, and general upkeep, though many recent complaints have been closed.

The most recent Housing Maintenance Code violations included issues with fire retardant materials in public areas and various individual apartment repairs. A complaint about falling debris was investigated in mid-2024 but resulted in no violations being found. While the building has passed multiple rodent inspections in recent years, there have been periods of rat activity requiring attention. The property has shown consistent compliance with bedbug reporting requirements, with no infestations reported in the past five years.