1631 Grand Avenue, Bronx, NY 10453

The 42-unit, 6-story New Law Tenement building at 1631 Grand Avenue in Morris Heights, owned by Michael Rubin, has experienced several significant maintenance and safety issues over the past year. As of April 2025, the building has multiple active Environmental Control Board violations, including concerns about gas piping protection (penalty $3,125), inadequate basement lighting (penalty $800), unauthorized electrical modifications (total penalties $2,200), and improperly installed window A/C units (penalty $500). The building has faced recurring heat and hot water issues, with multiple complaints from tenants in early 2025, though HPD inspections were often unable to gain access for verification.

Safety concerns have been documented, including problems with smoke detectors and window frames, with some violations issued. Recent complaints and inspection records indicate ongoing maintenance challenges, including issues with plumbing, mold, electrical systems, and various surface conditions (walls, floors, and ceilings). The building has also had multiple violations related to fire safety, including the installation of key-operated locks on fire escape windows.

A significant inspection in December 2024 resulted in various violations being documented in apartments F5, E3, and F6, including mold presence, heating system access issues, and problems with intercom systems. While the building has maintained a relatively clean record in terms of pest control (with no reported bedbug infestations since 2020), rodent inspections in 2023 showed varying results, with some inspections passing and others indicating rat activity. The property is currently active under two outstanding Department of Buildings violations from 2019 and 2024 regarding failure to submit required boiler inspection reports and energy benchmarking, respectively.