251 North 8th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211

251 North 8th Street is an 8-unit, 4-story residential building in Williamsburg, built in 1900 and currently owned by Alex Kaskel. The property has experienced several concerning issues in recent years, particularly in 2023, when multiple complaints were filed regarding heat and hot water problems affecting the entire building, ventilation system issues, and indoor air quality concerns involving chemical vapors. Most notably, Unit 3L encountered significant problems in March 2023, with multiple open Housing Maintenance Code violations including defective smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, faulty kitchen sink waste pipes, visible mold in the bathroom, and hot water temperature exceedances.

The building is currently under active Local Law 188/17 compliance inspections as of July 2024, and there were previously resolved construction-related violations in early 2023 related to tenant safety and construction document compliance, though these incurred significant penalties totaling $12,812. Recent complaints include a pest issue reported in May 2025 that could not be inspected due to lack of access, and an ongoing lead dust complaint from January 2023 affecting common areas and apartments. The building's maintenance history shows attention to various systems through 311 service requests and housing maintenance code complaints, though access issues have hindered multiple inspections.

The property's bedbug reporting history (2019-2023) shows no recorded infestation cases or treatment requirements, and rodent inspections in early 2019 demonstrated both initial rat activity and subsequent compliance. The situation at 251 North 8th Street presents a mixed picture, with some routine maintenance issues being addressed while others remain unresolved or require multiple complaint filings before inspection access is granted. The building's age and classification as an old law tenement suggest ongoing maintenance challenges typical for structures of this type in New York City.