497 East 138th Street, Bronx, NY 10454

The five-story, eight-unit building at 497 East 138th Street in Mott Haven, owned by Jameel Ali, has experienced several significant maintenance and safety issues in recent years. As of July 2025, there are multiple open violations from August 2024 related to necessary repairs in the 5th story public hall areas, including ceiling paint requirements, roof leak issues, and fire retardant material concerns.

The building has also shown recurring patterns of maintenance challenges, with four 311 complaints filed in July 2024 regarding paint/plaster, electrical systems, and appliance issues (including refrigerator and range problems) - though the Department of Housing Preservation and Development was unable to gain access to inspect these reported conditions. Prior to these recent issues, the building experienced various maintenance concerns, including plumbing problems in 2018 and 2019, and multiple food establishment violations in 2018-2019 that received official notifications requiring correction. The property has faced several regulatory challenges, including a 2023 violation for unauthorized demolition work in a commercial space (resulting in a $5,000 penalty) and multiple Department of Buildings violations from 2018-2019 concerning boiler inspection reports and plumbing work.

Historical records show consistent rodent control efforts, with multiple bait applications in 2023, though these inspections have generally passed. On a positive note, the building has maintained a clean record regarding bedbug infestations, with reports from 2022 through 2025 showing no affected units. However, the recent pattern of maintenance issues and open violations suggests ongoing challenges with building upkeep and compliance with housing regulations.