551 Warren Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217

The 68-unit, 6-story building at 551 Warren Street in Gowanus, owned by Michelle Delauz, has experienced a notable pattern of maintenance issues in recent years, particularly throughout 2024. The most concerning recent incident occurred in December 2024 regarding a refrigerator problem that prevented HPD from completing an inspection. The building has faced multiple infrastructure challenges, including several water-related issues, with three water leak complaints registered between 2024-2025, two of which were classified as "slow leaks." There have been recurring problems with heat and hot water, particularly in April 2024, when violations were issued for lack of hot water in Apartment 4B. Multiple apartment-specific issues have been documented, including plumbing problems, wall maintenance (paint/plaster), and electrical outlet concerns.

The building's common areas also require attention, with November 2024 inspections revealing multiple violations related to fire safety doors needing repairs at various stairways, including missing or defective latches and hinges. While the building has maintained compliance with bedbug regulations, reporting zero infestations from 2018 to 2024, and has passed multiple rodent inspections between 2018-2019, the maintenance history suggests ongoing challenges with basic infrastructure systems. The elevator system received attention in 2019, leading to ECB violations regarding phone repair, maintenance log book updates, and pit cleaning. Recent building-wide violations were issued in 2023 for failure to file external low-pressure inspections, though these were later dismissed.

Separately, one apartment-specific violation from September 2024 pertains to a leaky bathroom water supply pipe in Apartment 3I. The building's violation history shows a mix of resolved and ongoing maintenance issues, with many complaints requiring multiple follow-ups, as indicated by HPD's inability to complete inspections for several complaints in 2024. While basic building systems like heating, plumbing, and elevator maintenance have been addressed through various service requests and violations, the frequency of these issues suggests continued attention may be necessary. The presence of multiple C-Class violations related to self-closing doors and safety systems in late 2024 highlights particular concern for common area safety features.