117 South 4th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11249

117 South 4th Street is a 5-story, 31-unit former tenement building in Williamsburg, built in 1910 and currently owned by Four Heiden LLC. The building has experienced recurring heat and hot water issues, with three separate complaints regarding these systems between late 2024 and early 2025, affecting both individual apartments and the entire building. Multiple inspections have revealed several maintenance issues, including active violations for broken mailboxes, defective pavement, and a leaking roof at the bulkhead area. Of particular concern is a 2024 inspection that documented façade issues, with missing bricks and bulging sections noted as potentially threatening to residents and the public.

The building has a documented history of rodent activity, with multiple inspections showing rat activity between 2022 and 2024, though recent inspections in 2024 show improved compliance. Several Housing Maintenance Code violations remain open, including issues with window guards in apartment 26 and maintenance concerns in basement apartment BL. The Department of Buildings has documented various violations, including unauthorized occupancy modifications in basement apartment BL-C, with full-height partitions and additional bathroom facilities. The building's management has faced enforcement actions related to construction work without proper permits and inadequate tenant protection plans during renovation activities.

While the building has had consistent bedbug reporting showing no infestations since at least 2019, the recent history of maintenance issues and rodent activity raises questions about general building upkeep. Recent inspections have resulted in some violations being resolved, such as the roof leak repair and painting issues on the 5th floor, though several violations remain open as of the latest inspection dates. The property's history also includes several construction-related violations between 2019-2024, including concerns about sidewalk protection during construction activities. The building's management has generally addressed most violations when cited, though some issues, such as the façade problems noted in 2024, require ongoing attention. The property's plumbing and heating systems have shown particular vulnerability to recurring issues, with multiple emergency complaints regarding heat and hot water systems over the past year, suggesting possible infrastructure challenges.