558 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY 11225

558 Empire Boulevard, a 2-story, 4-unit New Law tenement built in 1923 in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, has faced several significant maintenance issues in recent years under the ownership of Yitzchok Lipszyc. Most notably, in July 2023, there were multiple emergency complaints regarding lack of heat and hot water affecting the entire building, with at least four separate complaints filed through 311 and the Housing Maintenance Code.

These complaints resulted in HPD being unable to gain access to the building for inspections on at least two occasions, though one complaint was reportedly a duplicate of another tenant's report. The building has a documented history of concerning conditions related to illegal pets, specifically rooster sightings, between 2018 and 2021. Multiple complaints were filed during this period, with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issuing official warnings to the owner, though inspections in 2020 did not reveal any violations.

More recent health concerns appear minimal, as evidenced by a rat sighting complaint in July 2023 that resulted in an inspection with no violations found. Of particular note is the building's most recent bedbug report from May 2024, covering the period from November 2022 to October 2023, which indicates no infestations or eradication efforts during that time frame, suggesting a current lack of bedbug issues. While the heat and hot water problems in 2023 represent the most significant recent maintenance challenge, the building appears to have stabilized since, with no recurring complaints of that nature reported through October 2023.