705 East 189th Street, Bronx, NY 10458

The 3-story, 6-unit residential building at 705 East 189th Street in the Belmont neighborhood, owned by Max Frye and built in 1931, has experienced several significant maintenance issues over the past two years. Most notably, there have been ongoing rodent control challenges, with a rat sighting reported in May 2025 and the building failing an initial rodent inspection earlier that month, though subsequent inspections resulted in passing grades. A cluster of maintenance complaints in May 2024 resulted in various violations, including issues with door frames, mold, and multiple unsanitary conditions.

These complaints also revealed problems with plumbing fixtures, ceiling conditions, and pest infestations, particularly in Apartment 5, which suffered from both mice and roach infestations, though these violations were subsequently closed. The building has also faced infrastructure issues, including an open violation as of September 2024 regarding inadequate lighting in the first-story vestibule and required repairs to the roof to prevent leaks, particularly affecting the third-story public hall area. The property has maintained an active record of responding to both internal and external inspections, with no bedbug infestations reported in the last five years of monitoring.

The building's management has generally responded to violations, with many being certified as corrected between 2024 and 2025. However, there remains an active Department of Buildings violation from June 2023 regarding the failure to file the 2021 external low-pressure inspection. Recent rodent inspections show mixed results, with rat activity reported in 2025, though a subsequent compliance inspection passed. While the building has experienced recurring pest control issues, particularly during 2024 and 2025, the pattern of responses and subsequent inspections suggests management is actively addressing these challenges, though some matters remain ongoing or were only recently resolved.