74 Van Buren Street, Brooklyn, NY 11221

The two-unit, two-story building at 74 Van Buren Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant, constructed in 1901 and currently owned by Abel Grenbaun, has experienced numerous maintenance and safety issues in recent years, particularly clustering around fall 2023 and autumn 2024. Most significantly, in October 2023, the building faced violations related to heat/hot water (apartment only) and appliance issues (electric/gas range), while emergency complaints from September-October 2023 included heat/hot water problems affecting the entire building and cooking gas concerns. More recent complaints from September 2024 indicate persistent challenges, including allegations of unsanitary conditions (pests), water leakage issues, and an active illegal conversion complaint as of September 2024.

Notably, there were multiple inspection attempts in 2024 (including for plumbing work, electrical wiring concerns, and boiler issues) where inspectors were unable to gain access to the premises, raising concerns about building security and maintenance responsiveness. The building's maintenance history shows a pattern of access issues for inspectors, particularly regarding boiler problems (with complaints in 2023 and 2024 about defective/inoperative equipment and lack of permits). The property has also seen recurring water-related issues, with multiple reports of slow leaks in both 2023 and 2024.

While the bedbug reporting system shows no infestation cases from November 2022 through October 2023, the building's overall maintenance record suggests ongoing challenges with basic services and responses to building code requirements. The Department of Buildings records show several attempted inspections in 2024 for various concerns including electrical wiring, plumbing, and an illegal conversion, with inspectors consistently unable to gain access. This pattern of access denial and unresolved maintenance issues raises significant concerns about building habitability and owner responsiveness to regulatory inspections and resident needs.