239 Schaefer Street, Brooklyn, NY 11207

This three-story, three-unit building located at 239 Schaefer Street in Bushwick, owned by Melanie Gaffney, has been standing since 1920 and is classified as a New Law Tenement. The building has experienced several maintenance and safety issues over recent years, with the most significant concerns occurring in 2022. During that period, multiple non-emergency complaints were filed on April 11, 2022, including issues with water leaks (both slow and heavy flow), unsanitary conditions with pests (specifically mice), problems with the ceiling (paint/plaster), electrical outlets, flooring, doors, and radiator plumbing.

These resulted in a series of open violations, particularly affecting Apartment 1 on the first floor, including problems with water leaks in the kitchen and ceilings, broken ceramic floor tiles, and issues with plastered surfaces that required repair and proper painting. The building has ongoing violations related to bedbug reporting requirements as of 2023 and 2024 inspections. In terms of rodent control, while there have been several rat sightings reported (most recently in 2021), the building has consistently passed initial rodent inspections in 2022, 2024, and 2025.

Some access issues have been encountered during inspections, particularly in 2022 and 2024, when inspectors were unable to gain access for investigations of boiler and work permit complaints. The property has also received several service requests related to various maintenance issues, though many have been closed without violations being found or requiring further action. The building's maintenance history suggests ongoing challenges with water-related issues, pests, and various interior maintenance concerns, with multiple open violations still remaining as of April 2024. However, the property has demonstrated compliance with rodent inspection requirements in recent years and has generally responded to 311 service requests.