421 Union Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211

421 Union Avenue is a 6-story, 29-unit residential building constructed in 2008 in Williamsburg, currently owned by Berl Jacobs. The building has experienced several significant maintenance issues over the past five years, with the most recent being a rodent complaint in November 2024, which was investigated by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and resulted in no violations.

The building has faced recurring elevator-related problems, with multiple complaints about the lack of alternate service during elevator outages, particularly notable violations in 2020 and 2022. In 2022, a comprehensive ECB violation was issued regarding elevator maintenance requirements, including issues with hoist ropes, worn gibbs, a defective car phone, inoperative overhead lighting, and an expired maintenance log, though this was subsequently resolved with a penalty of $1,562. Other significant violations include an occupancy issue in 2021 where a recreation room was found on the 6th floor that was not permitted by the certificate of occupancy, and various building management compliance failures such as not displaying the energy efficiency score and grade, and failure to perform required category 5 elevator inspection.

Fortunately, recent bedbug reports from 2021 through 2024 show no infestations or eradication efforts required. While the building has passed recent rodent inspections in 2024 and previously in 2010 and 2009, the presence of rat activity was recorded during the 2009 inspection. The property has had multiple notices regarding failure to file required energy benchmarking reports and violation certifications, though most of these have been resolved or dismissed.