947 Avenue St John, Bronx, NY 10455

The four-story, eight-unit tenement building at 947 Avenue St John in Longwood, built in 1910 and owned by Kevin Villa, has experienced persistent heating and hot water system issues over the past several years. Between 2020 and 2024, there were multiple documented complaints (at least nine instances) regarding heat and hot water outages affecting the entire building, with some complaints requiring emergency response from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).

The most recent incidents include a plumbing issue reported in December 2024 for the entire building, which HPD was unable to inspect despite the emergency classification. The building has also faced several regulatory challenges, as evidenced by multiple active violations related to external low-pressure inspection filings from 2019 to 2023, indicating possible maintenance oversight. A December 2024 inspection identified various safety requirements that needed attention, including posting carbon monoxide detector requirements, heating system access, and emergency procedures.

While there were significant environmental control board violations noted in 2018-2020 regarding disrepair of front entrance stairs and foundation issues, these were either resolved or dismissed. The property has maintained its bedbug-free status across multiple reporting periods from 2022 through early 2025, and recent rodent inspections in 2023 showed compliance, though there were some rat activity reports in 2019-2019. The building's historical data shows consistent challenges with basic services like heat and water, particularly during colder months, suggesting potential ongoing infrastructure concerns.