694 Rockaway Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212

694 Rockaway Avenue is a 21-unit, 4-story New Law Tenement building located in Brownsville, owned by Sam Klein and constructed in 1930. The property has experienced numerous maintenance issues in recent years, with particularly significant problems emerging in mid-2025. Multiple residents reported simultaneous heat/hot water issues affecting the entire building, plumbing problems, and cooking gas concerns, with violations subsequently issued by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).

Additional complaints during this period included heavy water leaks, an unsanitary garbage storage condition, and appliance issues. The building's maintenance history reveals recurring problems with major systems, including three separate boiler-related complaints in 2025 (two inspections resulted in "Inspector Unable To Gain Access" outcomes). An ECB violation from 2020 regarding improper boiler venting and other maintenance issues was resolved, though two active DOB violations remain related to failure to file low-pressure inspections in 2018 and 2019.

Prior inspections have documented various habitability concerns including mold (December 2024), defective smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detector issues, and pest infestations in multiple units (though no bedbug cases were reported in recent filings). The rodent control history shows inconsistent results, with recent inspections in 2022 and 2023 indicating rat activity. The building's environmental record shows systematic issues with water supply systems, heavy water leaks, and unsanitary conditions, with multiple emergency Housing Maintenance Code violations reported and closed between June 13-19, 2025. While some violations have been addressed and certified as corrected, such as carbon monoxide and smoke detector replacements in apartments 1A and 3A, many recent complaints indicate persistent infrastructure challenges that affect overall tenant comfort and safety.