2246 Ocean Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11229

2246 Ocean Avenue, a 72-unit, 6-story New Law Tenement building constructed in 1931 and currently owned by Gem Realty Apartments LLC, is experiencing recurring heating system issues as evidenced by multiple 311 complaints and HPD service requests for heat and hot water problems affecting the entire building throughout early 2025. Between January and March 2025 alone, there were at least eight separate complaints about building-wide heat and hot water issues, with several instances where HPD inspectors were unable to gain access to verify the problems. Prior to this, the building had noticeable maintenance issues in 2023, including several Housing Maintenance Code violations involving individual apartments.

These violations included reports of plaster damage, water leaks, and pest infestation in units 4K, 5B, 5M, and 6M. The building has also faced significant structural and safety concerns in recent years. In 2024, violations were documented regarding a defective fire escape drop ladder and self-closing doors to the compactor, plus multiple Local Law 188/17 Compliance Inspections were conducted through 2023-2024.

The elevator system has been a recurring focus of complaints, with issues noted in both 2019 and 2021 regarding lack of alternate service. There were several documented problems with the building's exterior condition between 2022-2023, including cracks in the facade and concerns about the exterior walls and appurtenances, though many past violations appear to have been resolved or dismissed. The building has maintained a clean record regarding bedbug infestations over the past several years, with no reported cases between 2021-2024, though rodent inspections in 2019 showed mixed results, with initial inspections failing but compliance achieved in subsequent checks.