251-02 61st Avenue, Queens, NY 11362

The 216-unit, 2-story garden apartment building at 251-02 61st Avenue in Little Neck, owned by Patricia Mcgowan, has experienced several significant issues since its construction in 1952. Most notably, there has been a recurring pattern of heating and hot water problems, with four documented emergencies between February 2019 and January 2022, though some complaints were unconfirmed due to lack of access during inspections.

While these heating issues were generally addressed promptly by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the frequency of complaints raises concerns about system reliability. The most serious recent incident occurred in August 2023, when a violation was recorded related to unapproved and potentially unsafe electrical equipment, wiring, and fixtures in use, particularly concerning an incident involving a kitchen fire in a second-floor apartment.

This violation, which carried a penalty of $400, has since been resolved. Additionally, there was a fence-related complaint in July 2021 that was investigated but found to have no violations at the time of inspection. While these incidents have been addressed, the pattern of heating issues and the recent electrical equipment violation suggest ongoing maintenance challenges within the building's systems.