414 Melrose Street, Brooklyn, NY 11237

The 4-story, 8-unit tenement building at 414 Melrose Street in Bushwick, owned by Steven Griffenber, has experienced numerous maintenance issues over the past few years, with the most recent cluster of complaints emerging in June 2025. These include violations related to electrical wiring, window frames, and several problems with paint/plaster on walls and ceilings, as well as issues with flooring, water leaks, and radiators. The building has active Housing Maintenance Code violations from April 2024, including problems with heating systems, electrical outlets, window mechanisms, and reports of roach infestation in apartment 4L.

Two separate Department of Buildings violations from 2023 and 2024 remain active regarding the failure to file mandatory low-pressure external inspections. The property has shown a concerning pattern of rodent activity, with multiple inspections throughout 2024 and 2025 consistently indicating rat presence. While there have been no recent bedbug issues reported (with the last report showing zero infested units in 2025), other maintenance concerns persist.

The building's documented history includes a 2019 complaint about a blocked egress and a 2019 report of illegal commercial use in a residential zone, though these were determined not to warrant violations upon inspection. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene found violations regarding pigeon-related issues in June 2025, requiring follow-up inspections. The volume and persistence of maintenance issues, particularly regarding basic systems like plumbing, heating, and electrical systems, suggests ongoing challenges with building upkeep.