56 Winthrop Street, Brooklyn, NY 11225

56 Winthrop Street is a four-story, nine-unit residential building located in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, constructed in 1931 and currently owned by Rony Lerouge. The building has experienced recurring maintenance issues in recent years, with particularly concerning patterns emerging around heat/hot water systems and plumbing infrastructure. In 2025 alone, there were multiple complaints regarding heat and hot water problems, including four separate incidents between January and February.

The property has also faced significant challenges with water-related infrastructure, as evidenced by several complaints about steam pipes/risers in March 2025, and multiple plumbing-related issues documented through Housing Maintenance Code complaints. The building's maintenance history shows persistent problems with doors/windows, unsanitary conditions (including mold), and plumbing systems, with both emergency and non-emergency complaints recorded. The Department of Buildings records reveal several active violations and compliance issues, particularly concerning the boiler system. Multiple violations related to external low-pressure inspection filings from 2018 through 2024 remain active, suggesting ongoing regulatory non-compliance.

The building's history includes some more serious safety concerns, such as a 2019 verified violation for disobeying a vacate order and multiple instances of illegal occupancy issues in 2018. Recent inspections in July 2025 captured evidence of rat activity, though previous inspections from 2017 had shown passing results with some non-compliance for other reasons. The property currently has several open Housing Maintenance Code violations from 2024-2025, including issues with self-closing doors, water leaks, and ceiling damage in apartments 2B and 3B, as well as ongoing concerns about pests and unsanitary conditions. While some historical violations from 2018-2019 have been resolved, the pattern of recurring maintenance issues suggests ongoing challenges with building upkeep and code compliance.