1660 Putnam Avenue, Queens, NY 11385

The 3-story, 6-unit New Law Tenement building at 1660 Putnam Avenue in Ridgewood, owned by Lucian Matej, has experienced several notable maintenance issues in recent years. Most concerning are the recurring rodent control challenges, with two rat sightings recorded in late 2024 (October and September), though a subsequent compliance inspection in October 2024 passed. The building has maintained an active rat control program since at least 2016, with regular inspections and bait applications.

A significant sanitary issue arose in July 2022, when mold was discovered in the bathroom ceiling of apartment 1L (approximately 12 square feet) at the first story, resulting in violations that remain open under Housing Maintenance Code Section 27-2017.3. During the same inspection, additional safety violations were noted, including the need to post proper notices regarding carbon monoxide detector requirements and gas leak procedures in common areas (HMC Sections 27-2046.1 and 27-2005 respectively). Despite these challenges, the building has shown improvement in certain areas.

The mold issue was documented and prompted an inspection, and since 2020, there have been no reported bedbug infestations, with all prior annual reports showing zero infested units. The building's rodent control efforts appear to be regular and systematic, with most inspections passing, though the recent sightings in late 2024 indicate ongoing challenges. The property has been actively maintained under the city's regulatory framework, with multiple agencies involved in addressing various issues, including the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).