1538 Hoe Avenue, Bronx, NY 10460

This two-story, three-unit residential building located at 1538 Hoe Avenue in East Morrisania, owned by Fidel Castro, has experienced significant issues with safety and habitability over the past several years. Built in 1901, the property has been the subject of multiple emergency complaints and violations between 2018 and 2025. Most notably, there are active ECB violations from 2019 totaling over $440,000 in penalties related to the illegal conversion from a 2-family to a 9-family residence, including unauthorized modifications to create multiple SRO units, bathrooms, and kitchen facilities throughout the building, particularly in the cellar and first floor.

The building has also faced recurring maintenance issues, including electrical problems (multiple instances of power outages and no lighting), cooking gas supply problems, unsanitary conditions (including rodent infestations and mold), and inadequate heat and hot water service. Violations from 2021 specifically documented inadequate electrical service throughout apartment 1, along with issues related to gas supply and visible mold conditions. The property has undergone several inspections and received various citations from the Department of Buildings and Housing Preservation and Development, including both emergency and non-emergency complaints. While some violations have been closed through correction or inspection, many remain open or were marked as "not complied" with by the owner, including issues related to carbon monoxide detector installation and various maintenance problems.

The building has also undergone rodent inspections between 2018 and 2022, with multiple instances of bait application recorded. Recent activity includes an illegal conversion complaint from June 2024, though inspectors found no violation at the time of inspection. Between 2020 and 2021, the building experienced multiple electrical outages, lighting issues, and appliance problems, all of which were subject to HPD inspection and violations. The most recent documented rodent inspection in July 2022 resulted in a "Passed" status, though previous inspections in 2020 and 2021 had failed for various reasons.