1364 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, NY 11213

The two-family house at 1364 Bergen Street in Crown Heights, owned by Joseph Ostreicher, has a notably problematic history from 2019 that deserves attention. In June 2019, the building, constructed in 1920, underwent inspections that revealed multiple unauthorized rooming units throughout the property, including several rooms in both the first floor and basement apartments.

These violations prompted the Department of Buildings to issue a Notice of Violation requiring the owner to either legalize the multiple dwelling use or restore the building to lawful occupancy. Two complaints regarding illegal hotel room use were filed in July 2019, with one resulting in an Oath Violation. The building's illegal hotel operation was confirmed through Environmental Control Board violations in July 2019, with significant safety concerns identified, including barred windows preventing proper egress in the basement unit, lack of required fire alarm systems, absence of automatic sprinklers, and inadequate means of egress - all representing serious safety hazards.

These violations incurred fines totaling $10,000. While these issues appear to have been resolved based on the status updates, it's worth noting that the building has maintained a clean record regarding bedbug infestations and passed rodent inspections in 2018 and 2016, showing no signs of pest issues. Since 2019, there have been no reported housing maintenance code violations, suggesting improved compliance with building regulations, though this follows a notably concerning period of code violations and unsafe conditions.