68-22 Forest Avenue, Queens, NY 11385

The three-story, three-unit building at 68-22 Forest Avenue in Ridgewood, owned by Kermit Westergaard and constructed in 1930, has experienced several significant maintenance issues in recent years. Most notably, in August 2023, violations were issued regarding flower pots obstructing fire escape egress on both the second and third-story balconies, though these were certified as closed in September 2023. The building has a concerning history of garbage and recycling storage issues, with three documented complaints (in 2020 and most recently in 2023) related to unsanitary conditions, though no violations were issued following HPD inspections.

A B violation was recorded in 2021 for failure to file an annual bedbug report, which was subsequently addressed, and while there was one documentation error in 2023 regarding external low-pressure inspection filing, this remains active as of October 2025. The property has shown positive trends in pest management, with bedbug reporting from 2020-2024 consistently showing zero infested, eradicated, or re-infested units. Both rodent inspections in 2016 and 2017 passed without issues, suggesting effective pest control measures.

The building's maintenance record also shows attention to permit requirements, with multiple permits issued for work completed in 2019, including plumbing and electrical work. A recent tenant safety inspection conducted in October 2023 found no violations. While the building has experienced periodic maintenance challenges, particularly regarding fire safety and garbage management, the relatively recent resolution of these issues and consistent pest management reporting indicate active property management.