1398 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10456

The 50-unit, 6-story New Law Tenement building at 1398 Grand Concourse in Claremont Village, owned by Harriet Kaplow, has experienced persistent heating and maintenance issues in recent months. From January to March 2025 alone, there were eight heat and hot water complaints encompassing the entire building, with several cases where HPD was unable to gain access for inspection. In February 2025, HPD issued violations for unsanitary conditions related to mold.

An inspection conducted in December 2024 revealed multiple violations in apartment 1F, including issues with floor tiles, leaky faucets, insect infestations (mice and roaches), and problems with plastered surfaces and mold in the bathroom, though most of these were certified as corrected by early 2025. The building's record shows a concerning history of pest issues, with one unit infested and subsequently eradicated in late 2024, following two years of no reported bedbug activity. Both initial and compliance inspections for rodent activity have produced mixed results, with the most recent inspection in June 2025 failing for other reasons.

The building's history includes several regulatory inspections that showed no violations warranted, including complaints about illegal use and conversions in 2023, work without a permit in 2022, and a confirmed gas utility issue in 2018. The Department of Buildings recorded a violation in 2019 regarding an unfiled boiler inspection report, though this was later dismissed. While some improvement can be noted in terms of rodent control, as evidenced by recent passed inspections, the frequency of heating complaints and the presence of ongoing maintenance issues, particularly in apartment 1F, suggests continuing challenges with building systems and maintenance compliance. The property has maintained regular bedbug reporting, with only one infested unit reported in the most recent cycle, though this represents a reoccurrence following several years of cleanliness.