238 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211

238 Metropolitan Avenue is a 5-story, 12-unit residential building located in Williamsburg, constructed in 1910 and currently owned by Martin Needleman. The building has experienced recurring maintenance issues over recent years, with the most significant cluster of problems occurring in early 2024, including water leaks, heating/hot water issues affecting the entire building, and window/frame maintenance problems in Unit 4B, which resulted in violations being issued. The building has maintained a relatively active response to rodent control, with inspections showing either passing results or reports of rat activity in 2020, with no rat sightings reported in recent years.

While there have been several heating, plumbing, and water-related complaints throughout the years (notably, an emergency heavy water leak in 2020 and toilet/plumbing issues in late 2020), most were resolved promptly, though some violations, such as mold issues in Unit 4B from 2021 and paint maintenance problems identified in 2023-2024, have required ongoing attention. The building's most recent bedbug reports from 2023 to 2025 show no infestations, indicating successful management of this potential issue. Recent inspections in 2023 and 2024 have identified various maintenance needs in common areas, including public hall stairs on the 4th and 5th stories, where violations were noted regarding paint conditions and fire retardant material.

A specific ECB violation was issued in March 2023 regarding improper maintenance of an air conditioning unit's supporting bracket. The property has maintained regular compliance with rodent inspections, passing recent inspections in 2022 and 2023, though there was one instance of rat activity noted in March 2020. The building's maintenance history suggests ongoing attention to various infrastructure issues, with the management generally responding to complaints and violations, though some recurring issues, particularly related to water and heating systems, indicate persistent maintenance challenges.