661 Hemlock Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208

The two-story, three-unit tenement building at 661 Hemlock Street in East New York, owned by James Spicer, has experienced multiple maintenance and safety issues in recent years. Most notably, in October 2023, there were complaints about no heating/hot water and electrical problems, with some violations being issued. The building has ongoing open violations from October 2023 related to lead paint hazards, window guard requirements, and various maintenance issues in apartment 2R, including problems with doors, floors, and walls.

Emergency safety concerns were documented in January 2024 regarding window guards and carbon monoxide detectors. The property has a concerning pattern of heat and hot water complaints, with similar issues reported in March 2022 and April 2020, though some inspections were unable to gain access to verify the problems. Historical records show persistent maintenance challenges, including multiple building inspections between 2018-2019 where access was often denied, and a significant violation from February 2018 regarding failure to maintain building compliance with a $4,000 penalty that remains active as of 2025.

There were also rodent inspection failures documented in 2016-2017, though the building passed inspection in 2012. The property’s file contains numerous 311 service requests and Housing Maintenance Code complaints over recent years, with violations ranging from electrical problems to plumbing issues, though many complaints were closed without violations being issued. The building was constructed in 1910 and is classified as a New Law Tenement, a designation typically indicating older residential buildings subject to specific housing regulations.