432 East 98th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11212

The two-story, four-unit tenement building at 432 East 98th Street in Brownsville, owned by Gladwyn Walcott, has experienced recurring maintenance and safety issues over recent years. Most concerning are two major incidents from November 2024: a heavy water leak that resulted in HPD violations, and an entire-building heat/hot water outage that HPD could not inspect. The building has been subject to multiple housing maintenance code violations and complaints, with four open violations as of November 2024 in apartment 1F, including missing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, a defective refrigerator gasket, and a broken light fixture. The building's troubled history includes numerous complaints about unsanitary conditions, including garbage storage and pest issues, particularly during a cluster of complaints in June 2022 that resulted in multiple violations.

Between 2021 and 2024, there have been several attempts to investigate potential illegal conversions of the property, though access was denied during multiple inspections. Structural concerns are highlighted by an active ECB violation from August 2021 regarding building wall maintenance, with documented physical deterioration including missing bricks and cracks, carrying a penalty of $6,250. The building has a persistent rodent problem, with recent inspections in 2024 and 2025 confirming rat activity. Other maintenance issues documented between 2022-2024 include electrical problems (wiring, outlets, switches), plumbing concerns, and various door and window-related defects.

The most recent inspection records from 2024-2025 suggest ongoing challenges with building maintenance and safety compliance, particularly regarding basic life safety systems like smoke and carbon monoxide detection. The building has a documented pattern of emergency maintenance issues requiring attention, including electrical problems, unsanitary conditions, and various appliance-related complaints. While some violations have been closed following inspections, many recent issues remain open as of November 2024, indicating potentially ongoing maintenance challenges. The property has undergone multiple inspections by various agencies including HPD, DOB, and DOHMH, with varied results regarding access and compliance verification. Historical inspection records show some improvements in building conditions over time, though significant maintenance and safety concerns appear to persist, particularly regarding life safety systems and basic building infrastructure.