254 Cornelia Street, Brooklyn, NY 11221

The three-story, six-unit tenement building at 254 Cornelia Street in Bushwick, owned by Michael Cortes and constructed in 1907, has experienced several significant maintenance issues in recent years. Most notably, there is currently an ongoing investigation by the Department of Health (initiated April 2025) regarding construction-related lead dust in common areas and apartments. In 2024, there was an emergency complaint about heat and hot water issues affecting the entire building, though inspectors were unable to gain access to verify the conditions.

This followed a 2023 complaint regarding unsanitary conditions related to garbage and recycling storage, which was closed after inspection found no violations. The building's record shows some regulatory compliance challenges, including a 2023 violation related to failure to provide required lead paint documentation, though this was eventually closed. There are also two recent complaints regarding potential illegal occupancy (2024) and work without a permit (2023), though no violations were substantiated during inspections.

On a positive note, the building has maintained an exemplary record regarding bedbug issues, with no reported infestations in the past six years. Recent rodent inspections have generally passed, though there was one instance of rat activity noted in 2022, which was subsequently addressed. The building's history shows consistent attention to pest control, with all rodent inspections since 2016 resulting in passing grades.