457 St Marks Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238

The 23-unit, 4-story Old Law Tenement building at 457 St. Marks Avenue in Crown Heights, built in 1910 and currently owned by Cicely Cruz, has experienced persistent heating and pest issues over the past two years. Most recently, in March 2025, there were multiple heat and hot water complaints that required HPD intervention, though heat and hot water were reportedly restored before inspections could be completed.

The building has a documented pattern of heat-related complaints, with similar issues appearing regularly from late 2024 through early 2025. Additionally, there are ongoing pest concerns, with multiple unsanitary conditions related to pests reported between late 2024 and 2025, including an active violation for rodent activity recorded in July 2025. The property has also faced maintenance challenges, with several Housing Maintenance Code violations specific to Apartment C5, including issues with pest infestations (mice and roaches), water leaks, and problems with plaster and paint. While some violations from 2024 were closed, others remain open as of the latest inspection.

The building's emergency response record shows multiple heat-related service requests, and there have been infrastructure concerns such as plumbing issues reported in late 2024. Inspections conducted under the Bedbug Reporting system from 2019 to 2024 show no documented infestations. The most recent Department of Buildings inspection in October 2023 noted exit passageway obstruction and access issues, resulting in an ECB violation with a $1,250 penalty, as well as a locked exit door violation. The building's history shows a mix of passed and failed rodent inspections between 2022 and 2025, with the most recent rat activity finding in July 2025 suggesting ongoing pest management challenges.