159 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11249

The 6-unit, 3-story Old Law Tenement at 159 Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg, owned by Thomas Durels and built in 1910, has experienced several concerning maintenance issues in recent years. Most notably, there have been recurring problems with garbage/recycling storage, with multiple HPD and Housing Maintenance Code complaints between 2022 and 2023, some of which resulted in open violations as of 2023.

The building has also faced significant infrastructure challenges, including heat and hot water outages affecting the entire building in December 2022, power outages, and a sprinkler system safety concern in mid-2023, though some of these issues were subsequently addressed or found to be non-violation during inspections. The property has open violations from 2024 regarding bedbug reporting requirements, as well as previous violations related to garbage conditions in the compactor closet and encumbrances in public halls.

There was a concerning pattern of access issues during inspections, particularly regarding garbage conditions, sprinkler safety, and heat/hot water complaints, suggesting possible communication or cooperation challenges between residents and inspectors. Historical data shows the building underwent some renovation work in 2018-2019, during which multiple construction-related violations were documented, including unauthorized work, inadequate pedestrian protection, and failure to provide proper construction documents. While the building has passed rodent inspections in recent years, there was evidence of rat activity noted in 2019.