192 Utica Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213

This 4-story, 8-unit New Law tenement building located at 192 Utica Avenue in Crown Heights, owned by Ben Upshaw, has experienced ongoing heating and hot water issues over the past two years, with the most recent complaints occurring in February 2025. The building has documented seven heat/hot water-related complaints since 2023, with varying degrees of impact on resident comfort. Despite these repeated issues, most inspections by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) either found the problems resolved or were unable to gain access to verify the complaints.

The building showed some maintenance progress, with violation resolutions including the removal of encumbrances from fire escapes and repairs to a defective door in apartment 3B, though these violations were identified during 2024 inspections. A concerning violation related to bedbug reporting requirements was noted in April 2024, indicating possible non-compliance with HPD regulations. Recent inspections have shown generally improving conditions, with a 2024 rat sightings inspection passing, though historical records from 2013-2015 show previous rodent activity.

The building has maintained a consistent record of no bedbug infestations since at least 2019, with all reporting periods showing zero infested dwellings. Several violations related to building maintenance were identified and resolved between 2022-2024, including issues with paint/repair needs, water leaks, and hot water temperature compliance in apartment 3B. The property has also faced challenges with access for inspections during multiple heat/hot water complaints, including instances where inspectors could not gain entry to verify conditions.