5602 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11220

The 6-unit, 4-story Old Law Tenement building at 5602 3rd Avenue in Sunset Park, owned by Frank Frontera and constructed in 1931, has experienced several concerning maintenance and safety issues over recent years. Most notably, in August 2024, there were plumbing and pest-related complaints that the Department of Housing Preservation and Development could not inspect due to access issues. The building has a documented history of rodent problems, with multiple complaints and inspections between 2021 and 2022 showing consistent rat activity and the need for bait application.

Violation records indicate ongoing maintenance issues, including an open violation from 2024 regarding a broken or defective mortise lock at the building's front entrance, and past violations related to self-closing doors in public areas dating back to 2018. More recently, in 2024, there have been significant concerns about unauthorized construction work, with an active Environmental Control Board violation issued for unpermitted combustible wood framing on the roof with improper piping insulation, carrying a substantial penalty of $6,250, and another violation for an illegally displayed outdoor advertising sign. The building's management has faced scrutiny for not consistently addressing these issues, as evidenced by multiple complaints being closed without inspection access.

While there have been annual bedbug reports filed showing no infestation during the 2022-2023 period, the persistent rodent problems and various building code violations suggest ongoing maintenance challenges. The property's record shows a pattern of inconsistent communication between residents and building management, particularly regarding access for inspections, which has become a recurring theme in recent complaints. The building's violation history indicates a mix of addressed and ongoing issues, with particular attention needed on the most recent plumbing and pest complaints from 2024, as well as the open violations related to building security and unauthorized modifications.