159 Starr Street, Brooklyn, NY 11237

159 Starr Street is a 4-story, 8-unit New Law Tenement building located in Bushwick and owned by Edward Gonzalez. The building, constructed in 1931, has experienced recurring maintenance challenges, particularly regarding heating systems. From late 2024 through early 2025, there were multiple heat and hot water complaints, including two emergencies affecting the entire building and several individual apartment issues.

More recently, the property has faced significant rodent infestation problems, with multiple inspections throughout 2024-2025 confirming active rat activity, despite some baiting attempts. The building has also experienced persistent lead paint hazards, with open violations as of December 2024 affecting multiple units (notably 1R and 4L) including baseboards, window frames, and doorways. Additional maintenance issues documented between 2023-2025 include plumbing problems, wall maintenance needs, and concerns about window frames and doors.

The Department of Buildings records show three active violations related to failure to file annual boiler inspection reports between 2019-2024. The property has undergone multiple inspections for various complaints, with some requiring emergency responses and resulting in violations. Most recently, in 2025, there was a complaint about defective/exposed electrical wiring, though inspectors reported insufficient information to locate the address. While some issues have been resolved, including certain plumbing and plaster violations, many significant concerns remain open, particularly regarding lead paint hazards and pest control.