296 Powers Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211

The three-story, four-unit old law tenement building at 296 Powers Street in East Williamsburg, owned by Joel Lefkowitz, has experienced several significant maintenance issues in recent years, with particular concerns about water-related problems. Most recently, in July 2024, multiple non-emergency complaints were filed and subsequently inspected by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), including issues with a refrigerator, lighting, door frame, and various appliances, though no violations were issued except for the refrigerator. There have been multiple water leak complaints between 2024 and 2020, including heavy flow and slow leaks, and an emergency mold issue in April 2024. The building has a concerning history of safety violations and maintenance code issues, particularly between 2019 and 2020.

In December 2019, multiple Environmental Control Board violations were recorded regarding gas-related systems, including improperly installed gas meters and water heaters, and a commercial dryer with improper connections. These gas-related issues resulted in substantial penalties, though some were marked as resolved. Other notable violations from 2019-2020 included inadequate smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in Apartments 1L and 2L, illegal window bars in Apt 3R affecting fire egress, and a 2020 violation for an improperly installed front door kickstand. The building's systems have seen improvements recently, with no bedbug infestations reported in the past five years and recent rodent activity being addressed through baiting in early 2023.

The property has demonstrated a pattern of water-related issues, with multiple leaks reported between 2020 and 2024. Recent complaints (2024) have consistently been addressed by HPD, though not all violations have been fully resolved, including an open violation regarding fire egress in Apt 3R from August 2024. The building's maintenance history shows a mix of resolved and ongoing issues, with most recent complaints being processed and inspected, though not all result in violations being issued or certified as corrected. The lack of recent bedbug infestations is notable, as is the regular compliance reporting for such inspections.