40 New York Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11216

The three-story, three-unit brownstone at 40 New York Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant, owned by Thelma Wallace, has a documented history of safety and maintenance concerns spanning several years. Most notably, in late 2021, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) received complaints about missing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, though inspection access was not granted. The building has been cited multiple times for failure to file necessary annual bedbug reports between 2021 and 2024, with these violations remaining open as of April 2024.

More recently, in 2023-2024, there have been multiple unaddressed violations related to the external low pressure inspection filings, covering the years 2018 through 2023. The property has a concerning history regarding occupancy and safety compliance, particularly in 2020 when multiple violations were issued related to improper transient use of a basement apartment, including failures to provide a fire alarm system and maintain proper sprinkler systems. While these violations were resolved, they indicated previous unauthorized usage of the building.

Recent rodent inspections show a mixed record, with rat activity documented in late 2024 and late 2023, though recent inspections in 2025 and earlier 2024 indicate compliance. The building's safety record is particularly noteworthy for the lack of documented smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as of late 2021, though it's worth noting that the building's age (built in 1901) may affect the applicability of certain modern requirements. The persistent nature of bedbug reporting violations and the unfiled low pressure inspection issues suggest ongoing maintenance challenges, while the recent passage of rodent inspections indicates some progress in pest control efforts.