5501 Church Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203

The property at 5501 Church Avenue in East Flatbush is a 3-story, 5-unit New Law Tenement built in 1931, currently owned by Junior Edouard. Since May 2025, the building has experienced numerous plumbing-related issues, with multiple HPD complaints regarding water supply problems and toilet facilities, including several emergencies involving water leaks and heavy flows. Of particular concern, there are three open violations from August 2024 related to apartment 4A, including defective smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, broken plaster surfaces in the foyer, and safety issues with flower pots obstructing fire escape egress.

The building also has multiple active Environmental Control Board violations regarding an expired sidewalk shed permit with associated penalties totaling over $42,000, as well as structural concerns documented in 2021 about vertical cracks and mortar issues on the exterior walls, with penalties ranging from $3,125 to $12,500. The property has a history of water-related issues, evidenced by numerous 311 complaints between May and June 2025, including sanitary conditions involving sewage and multiple water leak complaints, some classified as emergencies. In 2022, there was a significant occupancy violation regarding illegal living spaces in the cellar that warranted a vacate order.

Additional structural and safety concerns have been documented, including broken or defective ceramic floor tiles in the vestibule and issues with window frames. While rodent inspections from 2016 show one failure for "Other Reasons," it was subsequently passed on follow-up. The building's recent history shows ongoing maintenance challenges, with multiple plumbing and safety system violations requiring attention, though many recent HPD inspections have found conditions that did not violate housing laws, with some exceptions requiring corrections.