138 Franklin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205

The three-story, five-unit Old Law Tenement building at 138 Franklin Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant, owned by Pincus Schwimmer, has experienced several significant maintenance issues over the past few years. Most notably, there were multiple violations related to unauthorized alterations in 2021, when a duplex apartment was created between the first story and cellar, including a floor opening and stairs installation. This unauthorized modification resulted in both safety and compliance violations.

Other 2021 issues included an accumulation of refuse in the public hall, missing inspection certificate display, and a lack of proper gas leak notice postings. The building has also been subject to recurring bedbug reporting violations between 2022 and 2024, though the most recent reports indicate zero infested units during the reporting periods. A recent electrical safety issue was documented in September 2023 regarding missing GFCI outlets in Apartment 1's kitchen. The property has maintained reasonable pest control standards, with rodent inspections showing consistent passing results from 2018 through 2024, despite one instance of rat activity in 2018.

The building's bedbug reporting history shows a pattern of compliance, with all recent reports indicating no ongoing infestations or eradication efforts needed. While several violations have been documented, many are related to administrative matters rather than urgent health or safety concerns. The most recent housing code violations primarily involve procedural requirements such as annual bedbug reporting and electrical safety compliance, rather than fundamental building systems or safety issues. The property has demonstrated improved compliance over the past two years, with no active violations as of the latest inspection in 2024.