659 Seneca Avenue, Queens, NY 11385

The three-story, six-unit tenement building at 659 Seneca Avenue in Ridgewood, owned by Abe Friedman, has a construction date of 1930 and bears the designation of NEW LAW TENEMENT. The building has experienced persistent rodent issues over recent years, with multiple 311 complaints to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in both 2022 and 2023 regarding conditions attracting rodents. While a recent compliance inspection in November 2024 passed, there was a notable pattern of rodent activity during 2022-2023, with several bait applications and inspections showing either failed inspections or the presence of rat activity through multiple dates including February, March, and September 2023.

The building has an extensive violations history, with some issues dating back to 2008 remaining open as of the latest records. These include concerns about rear stair safety, specifically regarding broken or defective treads, missing handrails, and a violation related to the carbon monoxide detection device requirements. The owner has demonstrated some compliance in recent years, as evidenced by the certification of several violations in May 2018 related to safety notices for smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and building registration requirements.

Of particular note is an active Department of Buildings violation from June 2023 regarding the failure to file the 2018 external low-pressure inspection. Despite these challenges, the building's recent bedbug reports from 2021 through 2024 consistently show zero infested units, indicating effective pest management in this regard. The property has shown some improvement in rodent management recently, with the most recent compliance inspection passing, but the historical frequency of rodent-related complaints and violations suggests this remains an area requiring ongoing attention.