70-41 Olcott Street, Queens, NY 11375

70-41 Olcott Street is a two-family house located in Forest Hills, built in 1930 and currently owned by Doris Lozada. The building has experienced several significant issues, most notably in November 2020 when the first-floor apartment faced multiple maintenance problems including heat/hot water issues, slow water leaks, and both ceiling and wall paint/plaster concerns.

During this period, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) issued violations related to inadequate heat and water leak repairs in the kitchen ceiling, though some complaints were closed without violations. The building's history also reveals concerns about unauthorized modifications, with multiple Department of Buildings (DOB) complaints from 2019-2023 suggesting potential illegal conversions. Specifically, in 2019, violations were documented regarding unauthorized occupancy of the basement, which was allegedly converted into a studio apartment with bathroom facilities, contrary to its permitted use for storage, utility, and recreation.

These violations included failure to maintain proper egress requirements and unpermitted plumbing work, leading to fines totaling $1,557 that have since been resolved. More recent complaints in 2023 regarding illegal conversions could not be verified due to inspector access issues. Additional building maintenance concerns were noted in 2020, including emergency heat/hot water issues and non-emergency paint/plaster and water-related problems, though many of these complaints were ultimately closed without issuing violations.