1539 Benson Street, Bronx, NY 10461

The three-story, two-family house at 1539 Benson Street in Westchester Square, owned by Alexander Chen, has a concerning record from 2019 with multiple violations that remain unresolved as of October 2023. The building experienced significant safety and compliance issues in 2019, including blocked egress points, illegal parking concerns, and unauthorized modifications. Of particular concern were safety violations related to blocked emergency exits, with documented incidents of cars blocking driveways and walkways (four cars noted in multiple inspections), and a refrigerator obstructing a rear exit.

The property also faced zoning non-conformance issues and unauthorized curb cut modifications that extended the driveway beyond its permitted length. These violations triggered Environmental Control Board (ECB) penalties totaling over $31,250, with several violations related to obstructed passageways and parking regulations remaining active, including a potentially hazardous situation involving unregistered and improperly stored vehicles. The building was subject to multiple inspections in 2019, all of which resulted in violations, though it did pass a rodent inspection in February of that year.

The violation history shows a pattern of safety and compliance neglect, particularly regarding parking and egress issues, with six active ECB violations as of October 2023 relating to uncorrected hazardous conditions and multiple instances of obstructed passageways. The property also has outstanding Department of Buildings violations regarding failure to correct immediately hazardous conditions. While the building was constructed in 1970 as a standard two-family residence, the 2019 violations suggest significant ongoing maintenance and compliance issues that have persisted for multiple years without resolution.