51-65 72nd Place, Queens, NY 11378

The three-story, two-family house at 51-65 72nd Place in Maspeth, owned by Rihua Chen, has experienced recurring maintenance issues since its construction in 2011. Most notably, there have been multiple complaints about heat and hot water problems in 2023, including an emergency complaint in October 2023 regarding the entire building, though inspectors were often unable to gain access to conduct proper evaluations.

The building has faced ongoing concerns with unsanitary conditions, particularly relating to garbage/recycling storage, with five such complaints recorded in 2023 alone. Notable violations include a current open violation from October 2023 regarding illegal locking mechanisms at the building's front entrance, and previously noted issues with pest infestations (specifically roaches) in January 2023, with separate violations for both units that remain open as of January 2023 inspections. Significantly, there are numerous Department of Buildings complaints regarding potential illegal work or occupancy changes, with multiple "Inspector Unable To Gain Access – 2nd Final Attempt" dispositions between 2022 and 2025.

Specifically, five complaints about illegal conversion and three regarding illegal work/no permit issues were filed between 2022 and 2025, suggesting ongoing concerns about unauthorized modifications to the property. Other notable violations from January 2023 included issues with scalding hot water and a defective carbon monoxide detector in the first-floor apartment. The building's maintenance history indicates recurring access issues for inspectors, particularly when assessing both water heating problems and infestation concerns, which may suggest communication challenges between management and regulators.