159 Newel Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222

The 8-unit, 4-story building at 159 Newel Street in Greenpoint, owned by Eric Setton, has experienced significant pest-related issues in recent months, with multiple complaints about unsanitary conditions and rodent sightings between 2025 and 2024, including three complaints in March 2025 alone. Recent inspections in 2025 (January, April, and May) confirmed continued rat activity on the property. The building, constructed in 1930, has a history of maintenance challenges, including multiple heating/hot water emergencies in late 2022, various water-related issues, and problems with paint/plaster.

Violation records from late 2022 indicated problems with inadequate heating in Unit 3R, along with issues with self-closing doors. The building's management has faced scrutiny for not timely addressing multiple inspection requests, with several HPD inspectors unable to gain access for proper evaluations. The property has undergone several inspections and faced various violations over the years, including serious concerns in 2019 regarding illegal conversions and work without proper permits at the cellar level, resulting in fines totaling over $11,250, though these violations were subsequently resolved.

More recent compliance inspections have been conducted in early 2023, yielding no violations, though an active violation regarding failure to file 2022 external low-pressure inspection remains. The building's current bedbug reports from 2025 and 2024 show no infestations, and the property has maintained regular bedbug reporting compliance since 2019. While the building has passed multiple tenant safety inspections (most recently in 2023), the ongoing pest issues and recent history of maintenance challenges suggest persistent resident concerns. The most recent documented violation, from April 2023, regarding the failure to file 2022 external low-pressure inspection, represents the only currently active violation at the property.