156 Utica Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213

156 Utica Avenue is a 3-story, 2-unit residential building located in Crown Heights, constructed in 1911 and currently owned by Yosef Hackner. The property has experienced recurring heating system issues, with multiple tenant complaints about heat and hot water problems in 2019 and 2021, some of which resulted in violations from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). More recent inspections in 2022-2024 revealed several safety concerns in Apartment 2, including missing carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, and issues with self-closing doors.

Notably, there were also problems with visible mold in bathroom areas of both apartments that required remediation. The building has had three recent inspections specifically regarding bedbug reporting from 2021-2025, with the most recent report (May 2025) indicating no infestations during the previous year. Two significant complaints about illegal short-term rentals were filed in 2023, though inspectors were unable to gain access during both investigations.

A complaint about unauthorized work in an occupied multiple dwelling in 2022 was investigated but no violations were found. The property has shown consistent compliance with annual bedbug reporting requirements, with zero units reported as infested in the past three reporting periods. While a plumbing permit was issued in 2018, the building's ongoing heat system issues and safety violations, particularly in Apartment 2, are the most notable patterns in the building's recent history.