643 Central Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207

643 Central Avenue is a 6-unit, 3-story "New Law" tenement building located in Bushwick, constructed in 1906 and currently owned by Ben Mokthar. The building has experienced recurring maintenance issues in recent years, with significant problems emerging in 2024 and continuing into 2025. Most notably, there have been multiple emergency reports of water leaks, mold, and ceiling issues in December 2024, as well as ongoing violations related to the building's plumbing, electrical systems, and various apartment conditions.

Apartment 1L appears to be particularly affected, with open violations from December 2024 including issues with the ceiling in both the kitchen and bathroom, defective ceramic tiles, and several safety concerns involving smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. The building has a documented history of heat and hot water issues, particularly notable during a cluster of complaints in late 2021. There were also significant structural concerns in 2018, when a fire escape collapse was reported and resulted in multiple Environmental Control Board violations. Recent rodent inspections show an inconsistent pest management record, with rat activity reported in both 2025 and 2021, though the most recent inspection in April 2025 indicated this issue persists.

Compliance with safety regulations appears to be an ongoing challenge, as evidenced by multiple active violations related to various building systems and safety equipment, including unfiled inspection reports for low-pressure systems and a history of building-wide maintenance issues. The property has demonstrated responsiveness to certain maintenance requests, as shown by the closure of numerous 311 service requests, though many inspections have been unable to access affected areas. The building's current status shows open violations requiring attention, particularly regarding safety equipment and basic building maintenance. The most recent bedbug report from 2025 shows no reported infestation during the 2023-2024 period, which is a positive note in the building's maintenance history.