479 Central Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11221

Thelma Sosa's 5-unit, 3-story tenement building at 479 Central Avenue in Bushwick, built in 1920, has experienced persistent maintenance and safety issues throughout 2023-2025. Most notably, there was a significant heat and hot water system failure affecting the entire building in April 2025, with multiple complaints recorded over several days.

The building currently has multiple open violations from December 2024, including serious issues such as a mouse infestation and defective carbon monoxide detectors in both apartments 1R and 3R. Electrical safety concerns have been ongoing, with active ECB violations as of June 2024 related to hazardous electrical conditions and failure to maintain proper access to electrical equipment, resulting in penalties of $6,250.00 and $2,500.00 respectively.

The property's maintenance history reveals multiple concerning patterns, including repeated rodent infestations (with recent inspections in 2025 showing rat activity), multiple emergency complaints regarding heat/hot water issues, and various building system violations. There is also a concerning history of unpermitted work and infrastructure issues, as evidenced by complaints about illegal conversions, certificate of occupancy violations, and several active Building Department violations related to failure to complete required inspections and maintenance procedures. While some recent complaints (June 2025) regarding electrical outlets and water leaks were investigated without violations being issued, the overall pattern of complaints and violations suggests ongoing challenges with building maintenance and safety compliance that continue to affect resident quality of life.