445 East 140th Street, Bronx, NY 10454

The five-story, 20-unit tenement building at 445 East 140th Street, owned by Josue Velazquez, has experienced several recurring maintenance and safety issues since 2021, most notably in Unit 6. As of August 2024, the building has open violations in Unit 6 related to missing carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors, though these were previously addressed and certified as corrected in 2022.

The building has undergone multiple inspections revealing various maintenance concerns, including pest infestations (particularly cockroaches and rodents), plumbing issues, and water leaks. Most recent complaints include a refrigerator issue in November 2024 that HPD was unable to inspect, and a bathtub/shower problem in July 2023 that was inspected with no violations found. The property has a documented history of pest control challenges, with multiple HPD complaints regarding unsanitary conditions and pests between 2021-2023.

While bedbug reports from 2021-2025 show no recorded infestations, the building has experienced recurring rodent activity, with a "Rat Activity" designation in May 2023. Additionally, there was a serious incident in July 2019 involving water-damaged sheetrock falling in Apartment 14, which led to multiple Environmental Control Board violations for failure to maintain the building and file necessary certifications between 2019-2021. While most of these violations have been resolved, the building's inspection history shows a pattern of requiring follow-up inspections, with compliance issues being addressed but often requiring multiple inspections to fully resolve.