97-17 38th Avenue, Queens, NY 11368

The four-story, seven-unit residential building at 97-17 38th Avenue in Jackson Heights, owned by Joseph Malatesta and constructed in 2009, has experienced recurring pest-related issues over the past few years. Most notably, there have been four separate pest complaints between 2022 and 2023 that required HPD intervention, with inspection access being denied in all cases.

A Class C violation was issued in May 2023 regarding defective self-closing doors at the main building entrance, though this was subsequently certified as corrected in June 2023. The building has undergone several systems evaluations in 2021, including inspections of heating, plumbing, and various maintenance issues, though no violations were found during those inspections. Emergency responses in April 2021 addressed concerns about heat and hot water, as well as paint and plaster issues on walls and ceilings.

Despite these challenges, the building has maintained a consistent record of bedbug reporting compliance, with annual filings (2020-2024) showing zero reported infestations or eradications in all units over the past five years. The property has also addressed several regulatory requirements regarding building maintenance and safety, including compliance with self-closing door mandates, though there was one open violation (as of 2021) regarding an unauthorized slide bolt at the roof bulkhead door that remains unresolved according to the available data. The building's age and recurring pest issues suggest ongoing maintenance and inspection challenges, while the lack of bedbug infestations indicates effective pest management in that specific area.