689 Park Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11206

The 5-unit, 3-story building at 689 Park Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant, owned by Joel Braver, has experienced recurring heat and maintenance issues in recent years. Most notably, there was a significant cluster of heat/hot water complaints between September and December 2023, affecting both entire building and individual apartments, though HPD inspections generally found these issues corrected. The building has also faced multiple emergency service requests, including problems with doors/windows (September 2023) and water leaks (May 2023).

A serious infestation issue was documented in May 2023 in Apartment 2L, with violations for rodent and roach presence, along with multiple maintenance violations including defective plaster, door issues, and missing safety equipment (smoke and carbon monoxide detectors). While many of these violations were certified as corrected by mid-2023, two Class A violations remain open as of April 2024, regarding gas leak procedures and bedbug report postings. The building's mechanical systems have also had documented issues, including a boiler violation in February 2020 for defective equipment, which resulted in a $312 penalty.

More recent records indicate improved maintenance practices, with rodent inspections in 2021-2025 showing generally passing results, though there was one instance of rat activity noted in July 2021. The property has maintained consistent bedbug reporting compliance from 2020 to 2024, with all reports showing zero infested or re-infested units. The building's mixed history of maintenance issues, primarily during 2023, suggests attention to basic infrastructure and safety systems will continue to be a critical consideration for residents.