1721 Palmetto Street, Queens, NY 11385

1721 Palmetto Street is a 6-unit, 3-story New Law Tenement building located in Ridgewood, built in 1930 and currently owned by Michael Sobotka. The property has experienced several maintenance and safety issues over the past few years, with the most significant being a heat and hot water emergency affecting the entire building in November 2022, along with multiple concerning conditions including problems with fire escape access due to obstructing flower pots, missing signage, and garbage storage issues. These led to several open violations as of March 2023, including requirements for gas leak and carbon monoxide detector notices that were not properly posted.

The building has also faced various moisture-related problems, including complaints about mold, water leaks, and plumbing issues between 2020-2022, though many of these were resolved without violations being issued. Recent inspections and complaints indicate ongoing maintenance challenges, particularly regarding pest control, as evidenced by multiple rat activity reports throughout 2024 and 2025, though some inspections in 2022 were passed. The building's bedbug report filings from 2021 through 2025 consistently show zero infestation cases, suggesting effective pest management in this regard.

Historical data also shows attention to window repairs and various interior maintenance issues, with work completed on problems such as broken window counter balances and mold in apartment 2L. While the building has had multiple Housing Maintenance Code complaints and violations, many have been addressed promptly, though some violations remain open as of the latest inspection dates. The property has undergone periodic inspections for illegal conversions and commercial use, with no violations found in recent years.