2543 Decatur Avenue, Bronx, NY 10458

The 5-story, 16-unit New Law Tenement building at 2543 Decatur Avenue in Fordham, currently owned by Jorge Guaraca, was constructed in 1910 and has experienced persistent maintenance issues in recent years. Most notably, there have been recurring water-related problems, with multiple reports of leaks including a heavy flow leak in July 2024, slow leaks in March 2024, and a water leak reported as an emergency in February 2025. The building has also faced issues with doors and windows, including multiple complaints about door and window conditions throughout 2024, some of which were not inspected due to access issues.

A concerning pattern of rodent activity has been documented, with multiple inspections showing rat activity between April 2024 and June 2025, though recent inspections in 2025 have shown some compliance improvement. The building has received several Housing Maintenance Code violations, particularly affecting Apartment 2B, including issues with lead-based paint hazards, peeling paint, and problems with door self-closing mechanisms. Among these violations, one class A violation regarding paint requirements was certified in November 2024.

Emergency repairs were required for heating and hot water issues in January 2024, though these were verified as corrected upon follow-up. The property has maintained a consistent record of submitting bedbug reports showing zero infested units in the past four years (2021-2025), suggesting effective pest management practices, despite previous rodent challenges. Recent inspections in 2025 have shown improvement in compliance with sanitation requirements, though the building's age and history of maintenance issues suggest ongoing challenges with building systems and infrastructure.