243 Suydam Street, Brooklyn, NY 11237

The four-story building at 243 Suydam Street in Bushwick, owned by Joel Lefkowitz, was constructed in 1920 and contains 8 units. The building has experienced recurring issues with heat and hot water, with multiple complaints in 2024 alone, including an emergency complaint in October 2024 where HPD was unable to gain access to investigate the reported lack of heat or hot water. There have also been persistent problems with water leaks and unsanitary conditions, particularly mold, with the most recent mold complaint filed in June 2024.

The building has notable open violations from 2020, including issues in Apartment 4R related to roof leaks, broken plastered surfaces, and defective paint. The property underwent scrutiny in 2018-2019 regarding its certificate of occupancy, with multiple complaints and violations related to occupancy without a valid certificate, though these were ultimately marked as resolved. The building's maintenance history shows a mix of emergency and non-emergency complaints, with various issues documented through 2024, including electrical problems (wiring, outlets), water leaks (both heavy flow and slow leaks), and multiple instances of mold.

While there have been recent rodent inspections in 2025 and 2024 that passed, there was one failed inspection in June 2024 indicating rat activity. Bedbug reports from 2020-2025 show no infestation cases. The property has maintained compliance with posting requirements for carbon monoxide detectors and housing information guides, as evidenced by the closure of related violations. Despite ongoing maintenance issues, the building has shown some responsiveness to regulatory requirements, though many complaints have required multiple reports before proper inspection access was achieved.