864 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211

The three-story, six-unit tenement building at 864 Metropolitan Avenue in East Williamsburg, owned by Sam Rottenberg, has a lengthy history of maintenance issues, most notably in 2025. During February-May 2025, there was a significant cluster of complaints and violations, including multiple complaints about flooring, heating, plumbing, electrical systems, and various other maintenance issues. Notable among these were problems with stairs/floors, radiators, ceiling paint/plaster, doors/windows, and electrical outlets/wiring.

HPD inspectors repeatedly encountered difficulties gaining access to conduct necessary inspections, resulting in many complaints being closed without proper resolution. The building also faced concerning lead paint violations in Apartment 3R, along with issues related to fire escape maintenance and electrical safety. Prior to these recent issues, the building had documented rodent activity in 2023, though more recent inspections in 2024 passed without any noted issues.

A series of bedbug reports from 2019 to 2024 indicated no infestations throughout this period. The property has shown some maintenance responsiveness, as evidenced by the closure of various violations through repair work, including issues with paint, caulking, and electric cables in Apartment 3R. However, the pattern of access issues during HPD inspections in 2025 raises concerns about the ability to properly address ongoing maintenance problems. The building's status as an "OLD LAW TENEMENT" built in 1920 adds context to its age-related maintenance challenges, though its documented history shows some periods of improvement and better maintenance compliance.