544 St Marks Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238

544 St. Marks Avenue is a 3-story, 8-unit Class A building constructed in 2001, currently owned by St Marks Franklin Realty Corp. The building has experienced several recurring issues over the past two years, with the most significant being a series of heat and hot water problems in late 2023. Between October and December 2023, there were seven emergency complaints related to inadequate heat and hot water throughout the building, some of which resulted in violations.

The building currently has open violations from November 2023 related to heating and hot water issues in Apartment 1, access to the heating system, inadequate public area lighting, and door issues in the vestibule. Most notably, there is an active Environmental Control Board violation as of October 2024 regarding the building operating without a valid Certificate of Occupancy, with a $2,500 penalty imposed. Recent inspections have shown the building has had some pest control challenges, particularly with rodent issues. There were multiple rodent-related complaints in 2023-2024, with some inspections indicating active rodent presence or conditions conducive to infestation.

As of May 2025, the building passed inspection but previously failed in April 2025 and October 2024. The building's management has shown some responsiveness to maintenance issues, as evidenced by several complaints being resolved, though access issues have sometimes hindered proper inspections. The property has also documented multiple heating system complaints across different units, particularly during the winter months of late 2023. Additionally, there are open violations regarding bedbug reporting and various maintenance issues, including door repairs and public area lighting, though historical bedbug reports from 2020-2021 showed no infestations.