1298 Sterling Place, Brooklyn, NY 11213

The 6-unit, 3-story tenement building at 1298 Sterling Place in Crown Heights, owned by Joel Wertzberger, has experienced significant maintenance issues over the past two years, with the most pressing concerns being recurring water leaks and heating system failures. From February 2025 to April 2025 alone, there were three documented water leak incidents (including both slow leaks and damp spots) and multiple heating complaints, with violations being issued in several cases. Throughout late 2023, the building faced multiple heating and hot water-related complaints affecting the entire building, with several violations recorded against apartments 2R and 3R for inadequate heat supply.

The building also has open violations regarding external low-pressure inspections dating back to 2018-2023, indicating non-compliance with required safety inspections. Additional issues documented in the past year include water leak problems, ceiling plaster concerns, and various building maintenance violations. These range from encumbrances in public halls (noted as violations at both the 1st and 3rd stories) to the need for bedbug reporting compliance.

A rodent inspection from 2018 resulted in a failed rating for "Other Reasons". While some violations from 2023 have been marked as closed, several remain open or unresolved as of 2024, including a bedbug report filing requirement and issues with acoustic tiles in Apartment 2R. The building's age (built in 1907) combined with this pattern of maintenance issues suggests ongoing challenges with basic building systems and compliance with current housing codes.