256 Graham Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11206

256 Graham Avenue is a 4-story, 6-unit Old Law Tenement building located in Williamsburg, constructed in 1920 and currently owned by Alex Kahen. The property has a concerning pattern of heating and hot water system issues, with these complaints being the most frequent and recent problem reported. Most notably, in May 2025, there were multiple complaints about building-wide heat and hot water problems, with HPD confirming inadequate service through inspections, though access to some units was not granted. This pattern of heating problems is not new; similar complaints were documented in 2022 (multiple instances), 2020, and earlier, with both entire building and apartment-specific issues noted.

Some violations have been documented related to heating systems, including an open violation from 2018 regarding inadequate heat supply to apartment 3L and another regarding access to the building's heating system. The building has also experienced various maintenance issues over the years, though fewer in number compared to the heating problems. These include plumbing issues (bathtub/shower) and electric/gas range problems reported in late 2022, and a rodent sighting in 2022 that resulted in violations. However, subsequent rodent inspections in early 2022 showed passing results after initial rat activity was noted.

Notably, the building has maintained a clean record regarding bedbug infestations, with no reported cases since 2019. The property has undergone some regulatory scrutiny, including three complaints in April 2024 regarding debris and site conditions, though inspections found no violations at that time. The building's records also show proper permit handling for general maintenance work, with an East Williamsburg permit issued in 2019. While some past violations have been resolved and the building shows no current bedbug issues, the recurring hot water and heating problems represent the most significant ongoing maintenance challenge since at least 2020.