97 Clay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222

The three-story, 12-unit tenement building at 97 Clay Street in Greenpoint, owned by Joel Lefkowitz, has experienced several significant maintenance and safety issues in recent years. Most notably, there is an ongoing heat and hot water problem in Apartment 6 as of November 2024, with associated violations for non-functional hot water systems, defective smoke detectors, door issues, and non-working carbon monoxide detectors. The building has also faced multiple sanitation challenges, including rodent activity in 2024 and garbage storage issues in 2023, though some complaints were closed without violations.

Historical problems from 2019 included water leaks, mold, and ceiling issues, with varying inspection access by HPD. The property underwent substantial changes in 2018-2019, during which several safety concerns were documented, including improper fire stopping, defective fire escape equipment, and a series of violations related to gas system removal and electrical upgrades. These involved the installation of electric hot water makers, electric stoves, and air conditioning units without proper permits.

There were also multiple emergency complaints in 2019 regarding unsanitary conditions, pest infestations, and various maintenance issues across different apartments. More recent inspections in 2024 have confirmed ongoing rodent activity, and while there have been multiple permit issuances for plumbing and electrical work, there were also documented violations for illegal conversions in 2024, though inspectors were unable to gain access for verification. Despite these issues, the building has maintained a consistent record of pest control management, with no bedbug infestations reported in recent years.