681 East 83rd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11236

The three-story, three-unit building at 681 East 83rd Street in Canarsie, owned by Seymore Letts, has experienced several significant maintenance and safety issues over recent years. Most notably, in March 2022, the building suffered fire damage affecting two apartments (1 and 3), requiring subsequent repairs. The building has also faced illegal conversion concerns, with a complaint filed in August 2022 regarding the cellar apartment (CC) that was documented as having unauthorized living spaces and plumbing fixtures, though inspectors were unable to gain access during follow-up inspections in January 2023.

Multiple Housing Maintenance Code violations were recorded in 2022, including unsatisfactory conditions in the public hall areas, broken windows on multiple stories, and the need for light-colored paint in the first-story hall. A more recent issue was documented in May 2024 regarding unsanitary conditions in garbage/recycling storage. The building's recent history shows some positive maintenance trends, with the most recent bedbug reports (2023 and 2024) showing zero infestations or related issues, suggesting proper management of this common problem.

The building appears to have undergone some regulatory scrutiny regarding its configuration and use of spaces, particularly in the cellar area, which has been the subject of multiple violation notices regarding unauthorized living spaces and plumbing systems. While many previous violations from 2022 appear to have been addressed, including those related to fire damage and public area maintenance, the most recent garbage storage complaint suggests some ongoing maintenance challenges. The building's history dates back to 1960, and while it has maintained its Class A designation, the record shows a pattern of both significant safety issues (such as the fire incident) and ongoing compliance requirements that have required attention over recent years.