1608 Union Street, Brooklyn, NY 11213

The 23-unit, 4-story tenement building at 1608 Union Street in Crown Heights, owned by Leroy Forde, has experienced persistent heating system challenges throughout 2024, with multiple tenant complaints about heat and hot water outages between September and November. Most recently, from September through November 2024, there were seven separate complaints about heat and hot water issues affecting the entire building, though in some cases, inspectors were unable to gain access to verify the conditions.

The building also has two open violations as of October 2024, concerning roof leaks and defective fire-retardant plaster in the 4th-story public hall, issued by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). The property has a history of various maintenance issues requiring attention, particularly apartment 4A, which in September 2024 faced multiple violations including water leaks, defective caulking around the bathtub, and an instance of mice infestation, though these issues were subsequently addressed according to violation closure dates.

The building has maintained a consistent record of passing rodent inspections between 2014 and 2025, with the most recent inspection in February 2025 showing compliance. Notably, the building has shown a sustained lack of bedbug infestations, as evidenced by nine consecutive annual reports between 2019 and 2025, all indicating zero infested units. While the recent heat-related complaints represent the most significant ongoing issue, the absence of pest and rodent problems suggests relatively good overall maintenance standards in other areas.