15-19 Cooper Avenue, Queens, NY 11385

The two-story, four-unit residential building at 15-19 Cooper Avenue in Ridgewood, owned by Roger Romero, was constructed in 1931 as a New Law Tenement. The property has experienced several notable incidents over the past five years, with the most pressing issues being three open bedbug report violations (dating from 2021 to 2024) indicating non-compliance with HPD's annual reporting requirements. The building has also faced multiple plumbing-related service requests and Housing Maintenance Code complaints, including problems with toilets, bathtubs/showers, and a gas range in October 2021, along with water leak and pest issues in July 2020, though in all these cases, no violations were ultimately issued.

Significant compliance issues have been documented regarding unauthorized use of the cellar space, which was temporarily converted to an apartment with bathroom facilities despite being designated for ordinary storage use. This situation resulted in an Environmental Control Board violation in October 2021, though the penalty was recorded as $0.00. The Department of Buildings received complaints in both 2020 and 2021 regarding possible illegal conversions and unpermitted plumbing work, but inspectors were unable to gain access during their final attempts.

While the building has a history of rodent inspections dating back to 2011, all these inspections have passed. Additionally, two stairway violations were recorded in July 2021, though they were subsequently resolved in December 2021. The most recent building inspection occurred in April 2024, showing continued bedbug report violations, indicating this issue remains unresolved through 2025.