169 Starr Street, Brooklyn, NY 11237

The 4-story, 8-unit New Law Tenement building at 169 Starr Street in Bushwick, owned by Joshua Bail and constructed in 1931, has experienced several recurring maintenance and safety issues over the past few years. Most notably, the building has faced ongoing rodent problems, with 8 inspections between 2022 and 2025 showing alternating results between "Passed" and "Rat Activity," suggesting persistent pest control challenges. The building's heating system has also been a concern, with multiple complaints about lack of heat and hot water in 2019 and 2021, though records indicate these issues were temporarily resolved.

More recently, in 2024, there was a smoking violation addressed by the Department of Health. The property has a history of infrastructure issues that required attention, particularly in 2019, when multiple Environmental Control Board (ECB) violations were issued against Carmel Equities LLC for various maintenance failures, including unsafe facade conditions, compromised fire stopping, and unsafe electrical wiring in the first story public hall. These violations carried penalties totaling $6,250.

The building's management has been required to file annual bedbug reports, and the most recent filings for 2022-2023 and 2021-2022 show no reported infestations. While many complaints have been addressed and closed, including appliance issues in 2023 and various maintenance concerns, the recurring nature of some problems, particularly related to pests and heating, indicates ongoing maintenance challenges. The most recent rodent inspection in June 2025 passed, suggesting some progress in pest control efforts.