598 Howard Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212

The three-story, 24-unit residential building at 598 Howard Avenue in Brownsville, owned by Kenneth Knox and built in 1990, has experienced significant recurring maintenance issues over the past year and a half. The most prominent and persistent problem has been with the heating and hot water systems, with a total of 12 related complaints filed between October 2024 and January 2025, affecting both individual apartments and the entire building.

While some of these complaints were investigated and resulted in violations, others were closed due to lack of access for inspection. The building also faced plumbing issues in November 2024, with complaints regarding both bathtub/shower and toilet problems, though these investigations similarly encountered access challenges.

More recently, as of January 2025, there is an active complaint with the Department of Buildings regarding compliance inspections under Local Law 188/17, though specific details about this complaint are not yet available in the system. On a positive note, the building reported no bedbug infestations during the most recent filing period (November 2023 - October 2024), with all units remaining clear of this pest. While many of the heat/hot water-related complaints were classified as emergencies and warranted prompt attention, the recurring nature of these issues, combined with several instances of inspectors being unable to gain access to units for evaluation, indicates ongoing challenges with building maintenance and tenant communication.