604 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211

The three-story Old Law Tenement building at 604 Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg, owned by David Franczoz, has a century-old history with several significant recent developments. Most notably, in 2024, the building underwent substantial unauthorized work, resulting in two Environmental Control Board violations totaling $4,100 in penalties (which remain unpaid as of March 2025). This included the installation of new electrical systems, including breaker panels, outlets, switches, and lighting throughout the property, as well as new plumbing fixtures and partition walls, all carried out without proper permits on an apparently vacated four-story structure.

The Department of Buildings also recorded complaints in 2024 regarding work without permits in an occupied multiple dwelling, though one of these complaints had its stop work order fully rescinded in March 2025. The building has faced several maintenance and regulatory challenges in recent years. There are currently open violations from 2023-2024 regarding the failure to file annual bedbug reports in accordance with HPD rules, though previous bedbug reports from 2020-2021 indicated no infestation problems.

A 2023 HPD service request concerning door issues could not be inspected due to lack of access. Historical records show attempts to address rodent issues in 2011-2012, with multiple bait applications documented, though these appear to have been resolved by 2012. The property, built in 1910, retains its original tenement structure and currently consists of three units, though the recent violation history suggests significant unauthorized modifications to the building's systems and layout.