209 Taaffe Place, Brooklyn, NY 11205

The four-story, eight-unit tenement building at 209 Taaffe Place in Bedford-Stuyvesant, owned by Zalmen Biederman, has a concerning pattern of maintenance issues over recent years, particularly regarding pest control and heating systems. The building, constructed in 1905, has experienced recurring rodent problems, with the latest inspections in July 2025 confirming continued rat activity, despite some initial inspections passing.

The property has an ongoing heat and hot water complaint from March 2025 that remains unresolved as of July 2025, following a similar emergency heat/hot water issue in March 2022. Multiple access issues have complicated inspections, particularly during a series of complaints in 2022 involving unsanitary conditions, including mold, sewage problems, and water leaks, primarily affecting the first-floor (1R and 1L) units. The building has documented several maintenance violations that have been addressed over time, including a 2024 bedbug report showing no infestation, and a 2023 gas utility inspection finding no violations.

Multiple Housing Maintenance Code violations were recorded and subsequently closed, including issues with doors/windows, plumbing, and various water-related problems. Of particular note is the building's history of failure to provide timely access to inspectors, especially during a cluster of complaints in 2022 when issues with multiple systems were reported, including plumbing problems affecting toilets and heavy water flow. However, all previous bedbug reports from 2019 to 2024 have shown no affected units, suggesting some improvement in pest management practices.