708 East 161st Street, Bronx, NY 10456

The two-story, two-unit residential building at 708 East 161st Street in Longwood, owned by Christino Then, has experienced several significant maintenance and compliance issues over recent years. Most notably, there are currently *five active ECB violations* as of August 2023, all related to unauthorized modifications and safety concerns, including illegal additional bedrooms and bathrooms, improper key locking devices, and excessive stored items in common areas. The building has persistent heat and hot water issues, with a recent complaint in January 2025 that could not be investigated due to lack of access.

There are multiple open Housing Maintenance Code violations from 2021-2024 related to failing to submit required bedbug reports. The property has a documented history of rodent activity, with inspections in 2014-2016 showing recurring problems, though an August 2023 inspection did pass. Several Department of Buildings complaints from 2018-2023 suggest unauthorized construction activity and potential illegal unit conversions, with a *full stop work order served* in 2024 related to construction contrary to approved plans.

Multiple ECB violations from 2018-2023 remain active, including a $25,000 penalty for unlawful work continuation during a stop work order. The building has experienced various maintenance issues requiring attention, including multiple complaints about unsanitary garbage storage in 2019 and an emergency complaint about balcony conditions. Most concerning are the persistent access issues during inspections, with multiple complaints in 2018, 2023, and 2025 indicating inspectors could not gain access to verify or address reported problems.