168 17th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215

The property at 168 17th Street in Sunset Park is a 3-story, 3-unit building constructed in 1899, currently owned by Norma Fernandes. The building has a concerning pattern of outstanding violations, most notably involving failure to file mandatory annual bedbug reports from 2021 through 2024, for which four separate Class A violations remain open.

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has documented two significant incidents: a rat sighting in 2022 and, more recently in December 2023, an indoor air quality complaint involving chemical vapors or odors, which resulted in the owner receiving an advisory notice. Several structural and safety concerns have been documented through various complaint channels.

In 2022, the building received an Environmental Control Board violation for unauthorized construction work at the rear of the property, involving a new addition with roof, windows, and staircase, for which a penalty of $1,280 was imposed and remains active. The building's history includes other compliance issues, such as a 2019 complaint regarding possible illegal conversion, though access was not granted for inspection. While there are some positive developments, including passing a rodent compliance inspection in November 2022 following previous rat activity in September 2022, the persistence of open violations and recent complaints suggest ongoing maintenance and safety oversight challenges.