161 Starr Street, Brooklyn, NY 11237
161 Starr Street is a 4-story, 8-unit New Law tenement building constructed in 1931 and currently owned by Fernando Vargas. The building has experienced recurring rodent activity, most recently documented in June 2025 when an initial inspection found rat activity, though a subsequent compliance inspection in July 2025 passed. Between 2023 and 2025, there were multiple rat activity findings, with the most recent being six consecutive inspections showing rat activity throughout 2024-2025.
The building underwent significant maintenance issues in 2018, with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) receiving multiple complaints on September 8, 2018, regarding unsanitary conditions, including pests, water leaks, and plumbing problems, though inspectors were unable to gain access to verify these conditions. Notably, a March 2018 inspection of apartment 2R revealed various violations, including rodent infestation, plumbing issues (defective faucets and sink problems), a broken bathroom door, and concerns about window repairs, though all violations were subsequently certified as corrected by May 2018. The building's maintenance record shows a pattern of pest control challenges, particularly regarding rodents, with the most recent bedbug reports from 2022-2024 indicating no infestations.
The property has undergone regular rodent inspections, with mixed results showing both rat activity and compliance passes in 2023-2025. One concerning incident occurred in 2018 when the HPD cited the property for not posting proper gas leak procedures in a common area, though this violation was later closed after certification. While the building has shown some improvement in recent years, as evidenced by some passed inspections and no recent bedbug reports, the persistent rodent activity remains a significant maintenance concern as of 2025.
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Building Characteristics
Total units | 8 |
---|---|
Year built | 1931 |
Total area | 7800 sq ft |
Floors | 4 |
Tax Abatements | None |
Building Class | NEW LAW TENEMENT |

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