1374 St Marks Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11233

The two-family house at 1374 St. Marks Avenue in Crown Heights, currently owned by Juan Elejalde, has experienced significant maintenance and legal issues over the past several years. As of May 2025, there are multiple open housing maintenance code violations including unauthorized basement apartment use, illegal plumbing fixtures, pest infestations, and various maintenance concerns in both apartments.

The property has an active ECB violation from July 2024 regarding unauthorized occupancy of a basement apartment with illegal gas range and kitchen sink, with a penalty of $6,250 imposed. Multiple complaints about illegal conversion attempts have been filed between 2019 and 2025, most recently in February 2025. Regular maintenance issues have persisted, with multiple 311 service requests in 2025 for problems including paint/plaster issues, flooring concerns, and plumbing problems, many of which HPD inspectors were unable to access during their initial attempts. The building has undergone several rodent inspections between 2016 and 2024, with the most recent in December 2024 passing compliance despite a September 2024 failure indicating rodent activity.

A significant cluster of complaints and violations emerged in late 2024 and early 2025, including maintenance issues with doors, windows, electrical outlets, and a fire escape, along with unsanitary conditions involving pests. The property has multiple open violations related to basement use, including illegal cooking space and water supply issues. Historical records show a pattern of maintenance challenges, with several inspections revealing various problems that required attention, including defective tiles, water leaks, and pest infestations. While some complaints have been resolved through inspection, many remain open or have been closed without resolution, particularly those requiring tenant access for inspection purposes.