2973 Independence Avenue, Bronx, NY 10463

At 2973 Independence Avenue, a 13-story, 120-unit building constructed in 1984 and managed by Ephraim Fruchthandler, there have been several significant maintenance issues recently. Most notably, the building experienced multiple heat and hot water complaints in January 2025, with at least seven separate incidents reported within a week, indicating a systemic building-wide problem. Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) was only able to access one apartment for inspection, but they confirmed inadequate heat or hot water in at least one unit, resulting in a violation. Following these issues, there were multiple plumbing/water supply emergencies reported in June 2025.

Earlier violations from 2024 indicate problems including roach infestation in apartment 3F, while apartment 1G had multiple maintenance issues recorded in June 2024, including mold concerns and water leak problems. The building's history shows ongoing concerns with elevator maintenance, with multiple complaints filed between 2019-2022, though most were dismissed after inspection. There were also issues with various regulatory compliance matters, such as failure to submit required elevator inspection reports and energy efficiency documentation. The property has documented bedbug infestations in three units during the 2023-2024 reporting period, though all were reportedly eradicated.

Various housing maintenance code violations have been recorded over the years, including problems with carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, and there are open violations related to water leaks and mold in apartment 1G from 2024. The building's management has faced scrutiny for not maintaining proper notices in common areas regarding gas leak procedures and housing information guides, though these violations were later certified as corrected. The property has undergone routine inspections and received permits for various maintenance work, including an exterior wall repair job in 2019. While some historical issues have been resolved, the recent pattern of heat and water concerns in early 2025 and plumbing emergencies suggests ongoing infrastructure challenges.