646 East 236th Street, Bronx, NY 10466

The 19-unit, 5-story New Law Tenement building at 646 East 236th Street in Wakefield, built in 1929 and currently owned by Frank Cotaj, has experienced recurring heat and hot water issues over the past two years. Most recently, in January 2025, there was an apartment-specific heat/hot water complaint, following a building-wide incident in December 2024, all of which were resolved upon inspection or verification by HPD. The building has faced several other maintenance challenges, particularly in early 2024, including complaints about mold, water leaks, and ceiling issues, though HPD was often unable to access affected areas to verify conditions or issues.

Of particular concern are current open violations from April 2024 related to missing safety equipment in Apartment E, including smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and various maintenance issues, as well as a more recent September 2024 violation regarding the failure to file the 2023 external low pressure inspection. The building's maintenance history shows a pattern of heat-related problems, with multiple emergency complaints filed between February 2024 and 2025. During a February 2024 inspection, multiple issues were documented in Apartment E, including problems with the ceiling, sink, and bathroom fixtures.

Security concerns were highlighted in a February 2024 C violation related to the building's entrance door lock. While there have been no reported bedbug infestations in recent years (with the last filing showing zero affected units), and a rodent inspection in October 2022 showed passing results, the recurring heat and maintenance issues, along with current safety equipment violations, suggest ongoing building maintenance challenges. All recent heat/hot water complaints have been resolved through various means, though some required multiple tenant reports before inspection verification.