864 Knickerbocker Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207

The 6-unit, 3-story tenement building at 864 Knickerbocker Avenue in Bushwick, owned by Lavone Mason, has experienced recurring heat and maintenance issues in recent years. In early 2025 alone, there were four separate heat/hot water complaints, including multiple emergency calls, and one water leak complaint, all resulting in HPD violations. This building, constructed in 1910, is currently facing multiple open violations from March 2024 inspections, including one related to the bedbug reporting requirement and several concerning apartment 4's bathroom and kitchen conditions (including marble saddle, vinyl tiles, and various door issues).

Significant safety concerns have been noted in 2024 regarding fire escape access, including objects obstructing egress from fire escapes on both the 2nd and 3rd stories, and an illegal fastening system on the fire door leading to the roof. The building has a documented history of heat-related issues, with similar complaints filed in 2022 and 2022-2023, suggesting ongoing problems with the building's heating system. While the building has passed rodent inspections annually from 2012 through 2025, the maintenance record shows persistent challenges.

The property is also subject to a penalty for failing to properly display boiler room access information, with an active violation stemming from an April 2022 inspection. Despite these issues, the bedbug reports for 2021-2022 and 2019-2020 show no evidence of infestations during those periods. The building's maintenance history indicates that while some violations have been resolved, multiple open violations remain as of 2024, requiring attention to ensure proper living conditions for tenants.