286 Fountain Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11208

286 Fountain Avenue is a 2-story, 3-unit residential building owned by Carmelo Varela, built in 1910 and classified as a New Law Tenement. The property has experienced significant maintenance issues, with the most recent cluster of complaints occurring in April 2023. Multiple 311 service requests were made regarding various issues including flooring, doors, water leaks, and paint/plaster problems - all of which were inspected by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) with no violations issued.

However, more serious housing maintenance code complaints were recorded during the same period, including emergency-level issues with heat/hot water and unsanitary conditions involving mold and pests, as well as non-emergency problems. These complaints were subsequently closed in June 2023. The building has several open housing maintenance code violations as of 2024, including an unfiled annual bedbug report and various issues documented in June 2023 related to the first-floor apartment (1STFLO).

These violations include a defective smoke detector, issues with plastered surfaces and paint in both the apartment and public hall, problems with window sash repair, and multiple plumbing and pest-related violations. Specifically, there are ongoing violations regarding the need to repair leaky faucets in the bathroom, address mold conditions, and abate pest infestations involving mice and roaches. While the building had passed rodent inspections in May 2012, the recent complaints suggest recurring pest control challenges. Despite the numerous complaints and violations, most 2023 service requests were closed with no violations found, indicating some level of responsive maintenance, though significant issues appear to remain unaddressed as evidenced by the open violations.