136 Fountain Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11208

At 136 Fountain Avenue in East New York, this three-story, three-unit residential building owned by Kwesi Halm has experienced several significant events, most notably a serious fire incident in May 2023 that resulted in structural damage requiring immediate repairs. The fire compromised wall studs and ceilings, caused charring to stairs, and resulted in smoke damage throughout the third floor.

Following the fire, the Department of Buildings issued multiple active violations, including one for obstructed sprinkler heads in the basement and first-floor staircase area, and another for failure to submit an acceptable inspection report for the structurally compromised building. The building has also been subject to regular bedbug reporting requirements, with the most recent report (filed August 2024) indicating no infested units during the November 2022 - October 2023 period, though there were previous bedbug-related violations between 2021 and 2024 regarding late filing of annual reports. The property has faced multiple complaints in 2023 regarding various issues, including construction work without proper permits, building stability concerns, and general maintenance problems.

While some of these complaints resulted in violations being served, several inspections found no violations warranted at the time. The building's history includes a passed rodent inspection in 2012, suggesting good pest management practices at that time. The most concerning recent violations relate to the fire safety systems (the obstructed sprinkler heads) and the building's structural integrity following the 2023 fire, both of which could significantly impact resident safety and comfort if not properly addressed.