17 Greene Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238

The four-story, three-unit building at 17 Greene Avenue in Fort Greene, owned by Helen Ryu and dating back to 1865, has experienced several significant issues in recent years that warrant attention. Most notably, there are persistent open violations regarding bedbug reporting requirements under the Housing Maintenance Code, with unfiled annual bedbug reports noted in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. The building has also been subject to multiple Department of Buildings (DOB) complaints in 2024, including an active Local Law 188/17 compliance inspection and a closed case regarding work done without proper permits.

During March 2024, a DOB inspection resulted in multiple violations, including a penalty for an obstructed fire escape caused by an air conditioner installation and issues related to unauthorized construction of an extra room in the backyard (though this violation remains active with a penalty imposed). Additional concerns include two NYC Department of Health (DOHMH) complaints in 2024 and 2025 related to food establishment inspections, one involving pet/animal concerns and the other regarding toilet facilities. The building's historical data shows a bedbug infestation report from 2019 covering the period from late 2017 to late 2018, though no infested or re-infested units were documented at that time.

While this earlier incident may have been resolved, the current open bedbug reporting violations suggest potential ongoing oversight issues. The property has also been the subject of various environmental control board violations, particularly in 2024, including work that did not conform to approved construction documents, though at least one violation related to this issue has been resolved. The combination of unfiled bedbug reports, permit violations, and various DOB and DOHMH complaints indicates a pattern of compliance challenges at this property, with more recent violations appearing to be primarily related to building modifications and safety concerns.