1789 Davidson Avenue, Bronx, NY 10453

The 44-unit, 6-story New Law Tenement at 1789 Davidson Avenue in Morris Heights, built in 1925 and currently owned by Pierre Downing, has experienced multiple maintenance issues in recent years that affect resident comfort and safety. Most notably, in 2025, there have been recurring reports of unsanitary conditions, including pests (May) and previously attempted inspections for mold and water leaks (March). The building has faced significant heating system challenges, with multiple heat/hot water complaints documented between December 2024 and January 2025, though some were eventually resolved.

Noteworthy violations from 2024 include the identification of potential lead-based paint conditions and the issuance of multiple housing maintenance code violations requiring attention to mold, water leaks, and plaster conditions, particularly affecting apartments 3A and 2F. The property has a concerning history of fire safety issues, with violations recorded in late 2023 (apartments 2H) for missing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, though these were subsequently addressed. There were also structural safety concerns in 2018 regarding an exterior retaining wall obstruction affecting exit passageways, resulting in multiple violation orders and penalties.

While the building has passed recent rodent inspections (2025, 2024, 2023, and others), there were periods requiring bait application in 2020-2021. The Department of Buildings has issued some active violations related to low-pressure inspection filings (as of June 2023), though most past violations have been resolved. The building's bedbug reporting history shows minimal infestation cases, with only two units affected in 2019, and no reported cases since then. Recent maintenance records indicate ongoing attempts to address various building systems and habitability issues, as evidenced by multiple permits issued between 2018-2020 for various repairs and maintenance work.