242 Jefferson Street, Brooklyn, NY 11237

The 3-story, 6-unit tenement building at 242 Jefferson Street in Bushwick, owned by Joseph Jemal, has experienced several recurring maintenance issues in recent years. Most notably, there have been multiple heat and hot water complaints in 2025, with inspections finding no violations. The building has faced significant plumbing issues, including problems with sinks, toilets, and flooring in 2024, with violations issued in at least some instances.

An inspection in 2024-Apartment 1R revealed several issues including missing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, while mold issues in the bathroom and water leak problems in the kitchen were documented but subsequently certified as corrected. The building's maintenance record shows a pattern of rat activity, with inspections in 2025-06, 2025-02, 2024-11, and 2023-08 respectively noting this problem, while other inspections passed. Additionally, the building has not filed its 2021 External Low Pressure Inspection report as required, resulting in an active DOB violation as of June 2023. However, since 2019, there have been no reported bedbug issues, indicating effective pest management in this regard.

Recent environmental health concerns have included mold complaints (April 2024) and unsanitary conditions including pests in March 2024, while facilities-related issues have involved building-wide heat problems in early 2025 and April 2024. The building's violations and complaints, while generally being addressed and closed through inspections, reveal a history of maintenance challenges that may affect resident comfort. However, it should be noted that many recent complaints have resulted in inspections finding no violations, though some violations have been documented, particularly related to plumbing, flooring, and unsanitary conditions. The pattern of heat water complaints, with at least two such incidents in 2025 alone, stands out as a recurring concern.