1046 42nd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11219

The 4-unit residential building at 1046 42nd Street in Borough Park, owned by Joel Leifer and constructed in 2014, currently presents several concerning issues as of July 2025. Most notably, there are serious compliance matters regarding an unauthorized fifth-floor vertical enlargement that was constructed on the roof, including the removal of the bulkhead and installation of new C-joists with metal studs.

This modification, which includes new partition walls, glass doors, windows, and plumbing work, has resulted in both Department of Buildings (DOB) violations and Environmental Control Board (ECB) violations with an active penalty of $2,500. This illegal construction work prompted two complaints on August 19, 2024, regarding work without proper permits, resulting in a Partial Stop Work Order.

Additionally, there is a concerning pattern of housing maintenance code violations related to bedbug reporting requirements, with open violations recorded in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, indicating that the building management has consistently failed to file the mandatory annual bedbug reports as required by HPD rules. While the building was issued a permit in January 2019 for some unspecified work under permit sequence number 01 (job number 321745938), the associated construction activities appear to have exceeded the authorized scope. The combination of unpermitted construction, ongoing bedbug reporting compliance issues, and the recent enforcement actions suggests a need for close monitoring of management's response to these violations and their impact on resident safety and comfort.