638 East 98th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11236

The 12-story, 113-unit building at 638 East 98th Street in Brownsville, owned by Saul Friedman and constructed in 1966, has experienced numerous maintenance issues in recent months. Between May and July 2025 alone, there were multiple complaints about water leaks (both slow and heavy flow), mold, unsanitary conditions including pests, and issues with doors/windows. Some of these complaints resulted in violations, particularly a paint/plaster issue with walls that received a violation notice. The building has an active elevator maintenance concern as of June 2025, with multiple complaints logged regarding its devices throughout 2024-2025.

Electrical issues were also noted in June 2025, and there were several complaints about flooring/stairs problems. The property has a history of pest management challenges, with a Class C violation for roach infestation in Apartment 2G documented in late 2024, along with earlier pest complaints. Water-related issues have been persistent, with multiple complaints about leaks in 2025. The building has undergone various repairs and maintenance activities, as evidenced by completed violation notices from 2024-2025, including work performed in Apartments 2G and 9G related to paint requirements.

While there have been multiple inspection attempts for various issues, some inspections were unsuccessful due to access problems, leading to closed complaints. The building has shown periodic problems with elevator maintenance, as evidenced by multiple ECB violations and complaints between 2018 and 2024, including issues with the cab floor, phone operation, lighting, and safety devices. While the building has consistently reported zero bedbug infestations in annual filings since at least 2019, rodent inspections have produced mixed results, with findings of rat activity in 2016 and 2018, but compliance in 2024. Recent environmental control board violations from 2024-2025 indicate ongoing maintenance challenges, including issues with the building facade and concrete conditions. The property has also faced administrative violations regarding required reports, though some were subsequently resolved.