1645 St Johns Place, Brooklyn, NY 11233

The 5-unit, 3-story New Law Tenement building at 1645 St Johns Place in Crown Heights, owned by Usher Shteinmetz and constructed in 1925, has experienced several recurring issues over recent years. Most notably, there have been multiple heat/hot water and sanitary condition complaints in the past year alone, with two unresolved inspections in December 2024 and an active rodent violation from September 2024.

The building has a concerning history of water-related problems, particularly evident in September 2021 when multiple water leak complaints (both slow and heavy flow) were reported, along with other maintenance issues such as door/window problems and paint/plaster concerns. These incidents resulted in various Housing Maintenance Code violations, including issues with the building entrance door and elevator doors, which were eventually certified as corrected.

More recently, there have been persistent problems with rodent infestation, with initial inspections in 2018-2024 showing varying results from "Failed for Other Reasons" to "Rat Activity." The building's maintenance record shows a pattern of insufficient access for inspectors to verify complaints, particularly regarding heat/hot water issues and pest problems, suggesting potential challenges with maintenance response protocols. Of significant concern is the building's current status with the Department of Buildings, where as of June 2023, there are active violations related to the failure to file annual external low-pressure inspections from 2018-2023, indicating possible neglect of important safety systems. While the building has maintained a consistent record of zero bedbug infestations since 2019, the ongoing issues with water, heat, and pests present continuing challenges for residents.