279 Malcolm X Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY 11233

This 5-unit, 4-story old law tenement building at 279 Malcolm X Boulevard, owned by Daniel Rienzo and built in 1910, has experienced several significant maintenance and safety issues over recent years. Most notably, there are open violations regarding the annual bedbug report filing requirement for 2022-2024, and the building has faced persistent rodent issues, with the most recent inspection in June 2025 confirming rat activity.

The property has a concerning pattern of heat and hot water problems, with complaints in 2019 and 2021 regarding lack of service to the entire building, though inspectors were unable to gain access in both instances. Multiple other maintenance issues have been documented, including lighting problems (2023), water leaks (2021), and mold (2021), though violations were not issued in the latter two cases. The building's emergency response and safety requirements have been a focus of violations, including a 2018 citation for defective fire egress in Apartment 4, issues with cellar entrance doors, and the need for proper fire-retardant ceiling repairs in the cellar.

There are also historical compliance issues with food safety, as evidenced by multiple Department of Health complaints in 2020 and 2023 regarding food handling practices. More recently, there was a significant incident in 2020 involving building shaking or vibrating concerns that resulted in violations being served. While some past violations have been resolved – such as the July 2018 construction equipment permit violation and various safety notice requirements – the ongoing rodent issues and bedbug report violations suggest persistent challenges with building maintenance and compliance.