268 Decatur Street, Brooklyn, NY 11233

The three-story, three-unit residential building at 268 Decatur Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant, owned by Altanese Cato, has experienced several maintenance issues over the past several years, with the most recent concern being a heavy water leak reported in September 2023 that persisted until January 2024. This leak complaint, classified as an emergency, was notable as HPD was unable to gain access to inspect the conditions.

The building has a concerning history of both plumbing and water-related issues, including a drinking water complaint in February 2021 that prompted investigation by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, though no health code violations or hazards were found. In April 2019, the building faced multiple simultaneous issues requiring attention, including problems with electrical lighting, doors, walls (paint/plaster), and cabinets, all of which were classified as emergencies.

Unfortunately, similar to the more recent water leak complaint, HPD was again unable to gain access to inspect these reported conditions at that time. Prior to these incidents, health concerns were noted in September 2018 regarding rodent conditions. The building's documented history reveals a pattern of maintenance challenges, particularly relating to basic infrastructure like plumbing, electrical systems, and interior structures, with limited successful resolution of these issues due to access problems for inspection.