397 South 4th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211

397 South 4th Street is a two-family residential building located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, constructed in 1899 and managed by Area Management Properties. The building has experienced several notable incidents over recent years, with the most recent being an indoor air quality complaint regarding chemical vapors or odors in November 2024, which resulted in the property management receiving an advisory from the Department of Health.

In early 2022, there was one reported incident involving unsanitary garbage/recycling storage, though this did not result in any violations. Of particular significance is an active violation from January 2019, where the building was cited for unauthorized work creating an opening for a door in an exterior wall, with an associated penalty of $6,250 that remains unpaid as of this date. Between 2018 and 2019, there were three complaints investigated by the Department of Buildings regarding potential illegal conversions of the property, including unauthorized hotel rooms and manufacturing space conversions, though the first two resulted in either access denial or violation serving.

The building has maintained an exemplary record regarding bedbug infestations, with zero reported cases in the four consecutive annual filings from 2019 through 2023. Additionally, a rodent inspection conducted in December 2018 resulted in a passing grade, indicating no significant pest control issues at that time. The property's complaint history suggests periodic management of maintenance issues, though some concerns, such as the recent chemical odor complaint and the longstanding unauthorized construction violation, remain notable points of attention.