149 Watkins Street, Brooklyn, NY 11212

The three-story, three-unit residential building at 149 Watkins Street in Brownsville, owned by Albert Benchabbat and constructed in 2005, is currently experiencing significant heating system issues. In early 2025, there were multiple complaints about inadequate heat and hot water affecting the entire building, with at least ten separate reports made between December 2024 and January 2025. While some apartment-specific complaints were registered, most were duplicates of building-wide conditions.

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) was generally unable to gain access for inspections, though violations were confirmed in at least one apartment (2nd floor) related to inadequate heat supply and hot water temperatures exceeding 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Additional maintenance concerns have been noted, including a water leak with a damp spot identified in January 2025, and multiple Housing Maintenance Code violations remain open regarding required building postings and notices. The building's history shows some structural and regulatory challenges.

An active Environmental Control Board violation from November 2022 pertains to an illegally cut sidewalk curb, resulting in a $500 penalty. A building-wide inspection in late 2024 revealed several open violations, including issues with ceramic floor tiles in the second-floor kitchen and multiple administrative code violations related to building safety notices. The property has maintained rodent-free status according to inspections from 2017 and 2019. While there were previous complaints about heating issues in late 2024, the most pressing current concerns relate to the building-wide heating system problems that have persisted across multiple complaints in early 2025.