489 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215

489 4th Avenue is a 3-story, two-family brownstone building located in the South Slope neighborhood, owned by Joe Catalano. The century-old property has experienced significant structural issues in recent years, most notably in December 2022 when two critical complaints were filed regarding building stability concerns. These complaints documented instances of building shaking and structural instability that necessitated monitoring.

Inspections revealed alarming conditions including outward bulging of first-floor masonry walls, with loose brickwork and missing mortar at joints. Compounding these structural issues, the building has accumulated active Environmental Control Board (ECB) violations, including a $12,500 penalty for failing to comply with a commissioner's order to submit an engineer's report on structural conditions, and a $6,250 penalty for inadequate maintenance of building walls and appurtenances. The property's recent history raises serious concerns about its structural integrity and maintenance compliance.

As of January 2025, there are still unresolved DOB violations related to building maintenance. Interestingly, earlier rodent inspections from 2011 show a history of pest issues, with initial rat activity reported in September 2011, followed by a successful compliance inspection in November 2011. While these incidents are dated, they suggest the building has faced various maintenance challenges over the years. The most pressing current concerns appear to be the ongoing structural issues, as evidenced by the recent DOB inspection in January 2025 and the active ECB violations related to unaddressed building stability concerns.