179 Tompkins Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11206

179 Tompkins Avenue is a 4-story, 7-unit New Law Tenement building constructed in 1931, currently owned by Karl Griffith and located in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The building has experienced several concerning maintenance issues over recent years, most notably regarding its rodent problem, with inspections showing repeated rat activity in 2022 and three instances of rat activity in 2023-2025, though recent compliance inspections in 2025 have passed. There have been significant safety concerns related to the boiler system, including active violations from December 2019 regarding unsupported flues, missing spill switches, and inadequate ventilation near the gas meter, with a penalty of $625 imposed.

A more recent violation from June 2023 indicates failure to file the 2018 external low-pressure inspection. In July 2018, there were emergency complaints about unsanitary conditions including mold and flooring issues, though inspectors were unable to gain access to verify these conditions. The building has maintained a clean record regarding bedbugs, with all annual reports from 2020 through 2024 showing zero units affected.

The property has undergone regular inspections in recent years, with rodent inspections in 2022-2025 showing a mix of rat activity and passing results, suggesting ongoing pest management efforts. In addition, there was a notable violation in 2018 regarding household items and bicycles obstructing fire escape egress from the third story. While the building has experienced various maintenance issues over the years, most have been addressed through inspections and corrections, though some violations remain active as of the most recent data available. The frequency of rodent-related incidents, particularly in 2022-2023, represents the most consistent pattern of concern, though recent inspections suggest some improvement in this area.