596 19th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11218

The three-unit, two-story residential building at 596 19th Street in Windsor Terrace, owned by Patricia Baltar, has experienced significant maintenance and safety issues over the past two years. Most notably, there are serious concerns regarding recent illegal conversion activities, with multiple active violations from mid-2024 indicating unauthorized conversion of the basement into a fourth apartment, complete with a kitchen and bathroom facilities, resulting in fines totaling $24,120. Current health and safety challenges include ongoing rodent problems, with inspections throughout 2024-2025 showing regular rat activity and the need for continuous bait applications, most recently in February 2025.

The building has multiple open code violations as of July 2024, including issues with refuse accumulation, pest infestations, and improper fire safety compliance in the basement area. The property has a documented history of maintenance requests, particularly concentrated around July 2024, when multiple complaints were filed regarding various issues including window frames, water leaks, wall conditions, and various safety concerns such as fire escape and carbon monoxide detector functionality. While many of these complaints were closed with no violations found, they indicate a period of heightened maintenance activity.

The building's environmental inspection history shows consistent rodent activity as recently as 2025, and there have been multiple inspections showing the need for bait application. A recent Special Operations Compliance Inspection in April 2025 resulted in an Oath Violation, suggesting ongoing regulatory oversight. The property has also faced challenges with garbage storage requirements, bedbug reporting compliance, and various unsafe conditions throughout 2023-2024, including mold issues and safety concerns that necessitated emergency inspections.