490 East 181st Street, Bronx, NY 10457

490 East 181st Street is a 6-story, 24-unit New Law Tenement building built in 1927, currently owned by Gerardino Duarte. The property has experienced persistent heat and hot water issues in recent years, with emergency complaints filed in May and December 2024, as well as multiple complaints in 2025, suggesting ongoing problems with the building's heating infrastructure. The building has also faced significant maintenance challenges, particularly in apartment 3D, where multiple housing maintenance code violations were issued in November 2024, including issues with water leaks, pest infestations, mold, and the need for repairs to various surfaces.

The building's safety systems have been a concern, with violations related to unobstructed exit passageways and window security recorded in 2018, resulting in multiple Environmental Control Board (ECB) violations with substantial penalties. While rodent inspections have shown some improvement in 2025-2024, earlier inspections indicated persistent rat activity and other issues. The Department of Buildings has active violations related to failure to certify corrections on immediately hazardous ECB violations, and there have been multiple bedbug filings indicating no infestations in recent years.

The building's historical records (2018-2025) show a pattern of maintenance challenges, particularly related to heating systems, water infrastructure, and pest control, with the most recent violations primarily focusing on heat/hot water issues. The property has undergone several inspections and received various violation notices, indicating ongoing efforts to address multiple maintenance challenges. While some recent inspections have shown compliance in specific areas (e.g., rodent inspections in 2025), the building continues to face significant maintenance and compliance requirements, as evidenced by multiple open violations and historical patterns of similar issues. The absence of bedbug complaints in recent years and the most recent rodent inspection passing in 2025 may suggest some progress in pest control efforts, though the heat/hot water issues remain a primary concern.