74 Spencer Street, Brooklyn, NY 11205

74 Spencer Street is a 6-story, 12-unit residential building located in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, owned by Chaim Schwartz and constructed in 2004. The building currently has several open violations related to housing maintenance codes, most notably regarding the failure to file required annual bedbug reports, with these violations dating from both March and April 2024. There is also one recently closed violation from June 2023 requiring light-colored paint in apartment 4R.

The building has faced significant safety and occupancy issues in recent years, particularly in 2022, when multiple violations were documented including encumbered fire stairs, unlawful cooking space in the cellar, and illegal living space modifications in the cellar area. These violations culminated in an active Department of Buildings (DOB) environmental control board violation from August 2022 with a $6,250 penalty related to unauthorized occupancy and equipment. The property has a concerning history with its elevator systems, showing active violations from 2019 regarding failure to correct defects and failure to perform required inspections, though previous violations from 2018 and 2020 were resolved.

A notable rodent activity issue was recorded in December 2022, but subsequent inspections in 2023 (January) and 2024 (December) showed passed results. The building's environmental control board violations suggest serious concerns about unauthorized modifications and usage of spaces within the building, particularly regarding safety equipment and emergency access. While some violations from previous years have been resolved, the recurring nature of certain issues, particularly bedbug report compliance and elevator maintenance, indicates ongoing maintenance challenges.