1343 Merriam Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452

1343 Merriam Avenue, a 5-story New Law Tenement building constructed in 1917 in Highbridge, currently managed by owner Alex Wagman, has experienced numerous maintenance challenges over the past two years. Most recently, in mid-2025, there were multiple complaints about unsanitary conditions related to pests, as well as issues with walls, plumbing (bathtub/shower), and cabinets, though HPD inspectors were unable to gain access to inspect these complaints. The building is currently facing emergency plumbing issues with open complaints filed in June 2025.

Previous violations from October 2024 include concerns about self-closing doors in the laundry room, while June 2023 inspections revealed multiple safety concerns in apartment A3D, including missing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, as well as defective plaster surfaces and paint in various rooms. The building has maintained compliance with bedbug reporting requirements since 2022, with no confirmed infestations reported in recent filings. The rodent inspection history shows varying results, with passed inspections in July 2025, January 2025, and one failed inspection in July 2024 for "Other Reasons." Of particular note, there were multiple complaints between January and May 2025 regarding smoking or vaping in smoke-free areas, which were investigated by the NYC Health Department.

Historical data from 2020 shows the building previously experienced rodent issues in apartment C1A. The building's emergency heat/hot water systems have also been a recurring concern, with emergency complaints filed in November 2024 and June 2025. While there have been multiple maintenance issues requiring attention, the building has consistently filed its annual bedbug reports accurately, showing no current infestations as of the latest reporting period.