1978 University Avenue, Bronx, NY 10453

The five-story New Law Tenement building at 1978 University Avenue in Morris Heights, owned by Samantha Magistro, was constructed in 1914 and contains 11 residential units. The property has experienced persistent water-related issues over the past two years, with multiple water leak complaints recorded between October 2023 and February 2025, including both slow and heavy flow leaks. A notable concentration of maintenance issues has emerged in Apartment 3S, where multiple violations were documented in November 2024 regarding water leaks, plaster damage, and painting requirements in various rooms and hallways.

The building has also faced challenges with security and maintenance, evidenced by recent door-related complaints in 2025 and previous issues with mold and unsanitary conditions. The property has a documented history of rodent activity, with multiple inspections showing evidence of rat presence between June 2024 and June 2025, though some inspections resulted in passed evaluations and bait application. Although the building has a good track record regarding bedbug infestations, with no reported cases since 2018, there are two active violations regarding boiler and external low-pressure inspection filings from 2019 and 2023, respectively. Earlier history shows various construction and maintenance concerns, including issues with sidewalk scaffolding in 2020, an illegal commercial use complaint in 2023, and multiple emergency and non-emergency service requests to HPD regarding various maintenance issues.

The building's service request history shows a pattern of water-related problems, with six separate complaints regarding water leaks in late 2023 alone, some resulting in violations. Recent complaints include an open wall paint issue from February 2025 and a door-related complaint from March 2025 where inspection access was denied. The property has undergone several permit processes between 2018 and 2020, suggesting ongoing maintenance or improvement efforts, and has maintained a clean record regarding bedbug infestations for several years, with all previous cases listed as eradicated. The combination of ongoing water issues, recent maintenance complaints, and rodent activity suggests persistent building maintenance challenges that have affected multiple units.