279 South 5th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211

The 3-story, 4-unit residential building at 279 South 5th Street in Williamsburg, owned by Gabriel Dorfman, has experienced several maintenance and safety issues in recent years, particularly in 2023. Most notably, there were multiple complaints regarding heat and water issues as well as pest problems throughout mid-2023, with Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) unable to gain access to inspect these conditions. Other recurring issues documented in 2023 include concerns about flooring, electrical wiring, and wall conditions, all of which remained unresolved as of October 2023.

The building has also faced safety-related violations, including a 2021 issue in apartment 4 regarding a locked fire escape door, and historical problems with building entrance security documented in 2019 related to both the main entrance and fire escape access. Inspection records show the building underwent a series of emergency plumbing and flooring complaints in 2023, and while some violations from 2021 and 2019 were eventually closed, they indicate a pattern of maintenance challenges. The property has maintained a consistent record of being bedbug-free since at least 2021, with no infestations reported in recent bedbug reports through 2024.

Additionally, a rodent inspection in December 2018 passed without issues. Previous violations related to safety (including fire escape access) triggered Environmental Control Board penalties in 2019, which were resolved by September 2019. While there have been numerous complaints and violations across various systems (including plumbing, electrical, and structural) documented between 2021 and 2023, the most significant safety-related issues appear to have been addressed through repairs and compliance actions, though some recent complaints remain in a state requiring reinspection as of October 2023.