720 Knickerbocker Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11221

The 3-story, 8-unit tenement building at 720 Knickerbocker Avenue in Bushwick, built in 1910, has experienced persistent maintenance and safety issues throughout 2024 and into 2025. Most notably, the building is currently facing multiple open violations concentrated in Apartment 5, including water leaks, pest infestations (specifically roaches), and issues requiring paint repairs.

Between October and December 2024, HPD documented multiple violations involving heavy water leaks, mold, and unsanitary conditions, with particular attention to problems in Apartment 5, including issues with window recesses, ceiling leaks, and wall conditions. The building's safety infrastructure has also been called into question, with a notable fire escape violation filed in October 2024, though recent inspections suggest more immediate concerns with basic habitability. While the building has maintained active bedbug reporting showing no infestations since 2019, and has passed rodent inspections in recent years, a failed rodent inspection in April 2025 indicates potential pest management challenges.

The property has a history of maintenance issues dating back to 2019, including previous violations for pest infestations in Apartment 2 (verified in July 2019) and a significant violation regarding unauthorized occupancy in the cellar that year, though no violations were found upon inspection. The building's 311 complaints have consistently involved water-related problems, while the most recent housing maintenance code violations from December 2024 specifically cite issues in Apartment 5 involving water leaks, infestation, and various maintenance concerns requiring repairs. The presence of multiple open violations as of 2025, combined with the pattern of recurring water-related issues and pest problems, suggests continued challenges with building maintenance and resident comfort, despite the issuance of violations that theoretically provide time for repairs.