459 Putnam Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11221

459 Putnam Avenue is a 3-story, 7-unit residential building in Bedford-Stuyvesant, built in 1900 and currently owned by Jessie Chung. The property has a concerning history of maintenance and safety violations, with multiple open violations as of 2025. Most notably, there is an ongoing issue with unfiled annual bedbug reports since 2021, and significant problems documented in 2019 regarding Apartment 3, including carbon monoxide detector issues, infrequent pest control, security concerns with self-closing doors, and multiple open Department of Buildings (DOB) violations related to external low-pressure inspections from 2018-2023.

The building has also faced issues with safety compliance, including problems with structural safety during construction work in 2021 that resulted in partial stop work orders, along with multiple Environmental Control Board (ECB) violations for failure to comply with commissioner’s orders and maintain building safety equipment. The property experienced various maintenance issues in May 2019, including unsanitary conditions with pests, problems with stairs, and issues with electrical/gas appliances, which were all closed. While recent rodent inspections in 2019, 2022, and 2024 have passed, historical data shows earlier failures in 2010 and 2011.

Notably, there was a building shaking complaint in May 2019 that resulted in an Oath violation, though this was subsequently closed. The building has multiple active violations related to failing to file required inspections and certifications, with outstanding penalties totaling over $60,000 across various ECB violations from 2019-2020. These include failure to comply with required annual bedbug reporting, maintain safety equipment, and provide overhead protection during construction work, indicating ongoing concerns about building maintenance, safety compliance, and communication with regulatory authorities.