494 East 139th Street, Bronx, NY 10454

494 East 139th Street is a 5-story, 15-unit residential building in Mott Haven, constructed in 1910 and currently owned by Ben Schwadel. The building has experienced persistent maintenance issues in recent months, with multiple open complaints as of April 2025, including a water leak with heavy flow, plumbing problems affecting toilets and water supply, and non-functioning bell/buzzer/intercom systems. There are also ongoing safety concerns, including unaddressed issues with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors reported in March 2025.

The building's hot water and heating systems have been problematic, with emergency complaints filed in March and December 2024, though some earlier violations related to these systems were eventually closed. A significant cluster of violations was documented regarding Apartment 5A in December 2023, including water leak issues, hot water supply problems, floor and plaster defects, and mold concerns in the bathroom ceiling, though many of these violations were certified as corrected by mid-2024. The building has maintained a consistent record of submitting bedbug reports between 2019 and 2024, showing "0" infested units in each reporting period, suggesting effective pest management practices.

Regular rodent inspections conducted between 2010 and 2023 have all resulted in "Passed" ratings, indicating good overall building hygiene and maintenance standards in this regard. A single Department of Buildings complaint from February 2019 regarding a defective boiler was investigated and found to have no violations at the time of inspection. While the building has consistently addressed many maintenance issues over time, the recent pattern of open complaints and violations suggests ongoing challenges with building systems and safety features that require attention.