604 Midwood Street, Brooklyn, NY 11203

The two-story, four-unit New Law Tenement building at 604 Midwood Street, owned by Joyce Samuels, has experienced recurring heat and hot water issues over the past several years, with multiple 311 complaints between 2018 and 2022. These complaints included reports of inadequate heating under both apartment-only and entire building conditions. A notable cluster of maintenance issues emerged in January 2019, affecting Unit 1R, including problems with mold, water leaks, wall conditions, and door functionality, all of which led to both violations and emergency response from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).

More recently, the building has faced serious concerns regarding unauthorized modifications, with multiple illegal conversion complaints filed between 2019 and 2021. These inspections revealed unauthorized construction of a full-height partition, bathroom, kitchen, and electrical installations in the cellar, leading to several Environmental Control Board (ECB) violations with active penalties totaling $6,000. The building's current status also shows an open ECB violation from 2024 regarding failure to comply with an order from 2021. However, recent bedbug reports for 2022-2024 indicate no infestation issues during the past two reporting periods, suggesting improved pest management.

The most recent inspection in March 2025 included a Special Operations Compliance Inspection, resulting in an Oath Violation being served, though no specific details were provided about the nature of this violation. The building's maintenance history shows a mix of resolved and ongoing issues, with some violations having been certified corrected while others remain active or open. The property is currently operating as a two-family dwelling with a cellar, though records indicate past unauthorized modifications that expanded its use beyond the original Certificate of Occupancy designations. The frequency of heating-related complaints, particularly during winter months, and the history of unauthorized modifications represent the most significant ongoing concerns for this property, though many historical issues have been resolved through various inspections and repairs.