163-62 17th Avenue, Queens, NY 11357

The property at 163-62 17th Avenue in Whitestone is a 240-unit, 2-story garden/masonette building constructed in 1951, currently owned by James Marsanico. The building has experienced several concerning issues in recent years, most notably a pattern of violations related to smoking in smoke-free areas, with multiple complaints filed between April and June 2025, and a recent smoking complaint from June 2025 that remains under investigation by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Additionally, there have been multiple sanitation-related issues, including complaints about unsanitary conditions involving dogs in March 2025, an indoor air quality issue involving sewage odor in March 2025, and a garbage/recycling storage complaint from September 2023 that could not be inspected. The building has documented a history of bedbug incidents, with three filings between 2021-2024: one in 2021 (1 unit), one in 2022 (2 units), and the most recent in 2024 showing no infested units. The property has faced several maintenance challenges, including an emergency painting/plastering issue in September 2023, and multiple heat/hot water complaints in November 2021.

Recent inspections revealed one open violation from September 2023 related to broken or defective plastered surfaces in apartment 4298, though the building has successfully closed other violations, including bedbug reporting requirements. Rodent control remains an ongoing concern, with the most recent rodent inspection in June 2025 resulting in a failure for "Other Reasons," following a pattern of rat activity noted in 2019. The building's owner has generally addressed violations when identified, as evidenced by multiple closed complaints, though some recent issues, particularly regarding smoking violations and pest control, suggest ongoing resident discomfort in these areas.