288 Arlington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11208

The three-story, six-unit New Law Tenement building at 288 Arlington Avenue in Cypress Hills, currently owned by Ricky Persaud, has experienced recurring maintenance challenges since 2021, representing a variety of health and safety concerns. Most notably, there are four open violations related to unauthorized commercial use and safety hazards from May 2023, involving a converted commercial kitchen with improperly installed gas appliances in unit 2R, and an illegal combination of two apartments with unauthorized full-height partitions, for which $2,500 in penalties were imposed. The building has also faced persistent pest issues, with the most recent complaint about unsanitary conditions and pests reported in March 2025.

Historical patterns show multiple plumbing problems (including toilet and bathtub issues in September 2023), water leaks, mold, and sanitation concerns, though many of these complaints were closed without violations being issued, including an inspection in May 2023 that covered multiple issues such as water leaks, mold, and sanitation conditions. The property has a documented history of unauthorized commercial use complaints between 2019-2022, all resulting in inspectors being unable to gain access during their visits. These complaints included allegations of improper use of the residential space in violation of zoning regulations.

While the building has passed rodent inspections in 2012 and 2017, the persistence of maintenance issues and the open violations regarding illegal commercial use and safety concerns raise significant red flags about ongoing building management practices. The most recent complaints and violations suggest a continued struggle with building maintenance and compliance with housing codes, including an ongoing failure to file required annual bedbug reports as evidenced by open violations from 2021-2024. The Department of Buildings has documented several instances of inspectors being unable to gain access to investigate complaints, indicating potential challenges with communication or access coordination at the property.