816 Knickerbocker Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207

The 4-story, 8-unit tenement building at 816 Knickerbocker Avenue in Bushwick, owned by Tom Rosenberg and built in 1920, has experienced several significant maintenance issues in recent years, particularly between 2021 and 2024. Most notably, there was a concerning pattern of heating and hot water problems in January-February 2022, with multiple emergency complaints from various units reporting lack of service. More recently, in May 2024, there was a mold-related unsanitary condition reported and addressed by HPD.

The building has also demonstrated recurring issues with pest management, particularly in January 2022, though inspections were unable to gain access to verify the conditions. The property has two active violations of note: one regarding an unfiled 2017 boiler inspection report from November 2019, and another from May 2024 concerning a self-closing door issue in apartment 2R. Earlier violations were documented in 2023-2024, including problems with smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and plaster repair requirements in apartment 2R, though these have since been certified as corrected.

A significant incident occurred in February 2023 involving fire damage in apartment 1L, and in July 2023 there was an issue with scalding hot water in the same apartment. The building has maintained good compliance with bedbug reporting requirements, showing no infestations recorded in the past three years, and recent rodent inspections in 2022, 2024, and 2025 have all passed, indicating improved pest management practices. While the building has had its share of maintenance challenges, recent records suggest some improvement in response times and resolution of violations, particularly with most recent complaints being addressed relatively quickly by HPD.