16-63 Hancock Street, Queens, NY 11385

The property at 16-63 Hancock Street is a three-story, three-unit old-law tenement building located in Ridgewood, built in 1910 and currently managed by owner Claudia Vargas. The building has experienced several significant maintenance issues over the past few years, with the most recent being a water leak complaint in June 2023 that HPD was unable to inspect. In 2020, there was a major heat and hot water issue affecting the entire building, particularly concerning violations related to inadequate heating systems and hot water supply in the third-floor apartment.

The building has also faced safety concerns, including multiple violations in June 2019 related to smoke detectors, as well as problems with doors, windows, and water leaks that resulted in various HPD-identified violations. Most notably, the building has active Environmental Control Board violations from 2020 regarding alleged unauthorized conversion of the cellar into living space with bathroom and kitchen facilities, and failure to comply with correction orders, totaling a penalty of $6,250.00. There appear to be multiple open violations from 2020 associated with egress obstruction, illegal cooking space in the cellar, and questions about self-closing doors, particularly in relation to safety concerns.

The building experienced rodent activity in 2019-2020, but recent inspections in 2022-2024 have passed without any reported issues. The property has undergone several repairs and maintenance work, including addressing paint/plaster issues in ceilings and walls, though some complaints about water leaks and window frames resulted in HPD being unable to gain access for inspection. The building's history suggests ongoing maintenance challenges, particularly regarding water-related issues, heating systems, and safety compliance, with some remediation efforts documented through HPD inspections.