4211 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232

The four-story, seven-unit tenement at 4211 8th Avenue in Borough Park, owned by Chao Zuo Chen, has experienced several concerning issues over the past few years. Most notably, there has been an ongoing pattern of pest-related complaints, with multiple reports in 2023 and 2024 indicating unsanitary conditions, though HPD was unable to gain access to inspect these complaints. More recent maintenance concerns include a January 2025 electrical lighting issue affecting the entire building, which resulted in violations being issued, and a temporary heat/hot water problem that was reportedly corrected within days of the complaint.

The building currently has several open violations from 2020-2024, including one from 2024 requiring the filing of annual bedbug reports, and a 2021 violation related to lead-based paint hazard control in Apartment 3F. Recent Department of Buildings complaints in March 2025 regarding an alleged illegal conversion and unpermitted work were marked as unable to gain access during inspections. While a bedbug report was filed for the period between late 2019 and late 2020 showing no infestations, the building has experienced multiple bedbug report violations since then.

The building's documented issues reveal a concerning pattern of maintenance challenges affecting basic services and safety compliance. While some complaints have been addressed promptly, such as the heat/hot water issue, others remain unresolved, including open violations related to lead paint and bedbug reporting requirements. The most recent service request in 2025 regarding lighting issues suggests ongoing infrastructure maintenance concerns, while the repeated pest complaints in 2023-2024 indicate potential ongoing sanitation challenges, despite HPD's inability to inspect these conditions. The building's age (built in 1915) and classification as a New Law Tenement further contextualize these maintenance issues, which appear to affect both building systems (lighting, heat) and habitability factors (pest control, lead safety).