98-01 101st Avenue, Queens, NY 11416

The two-family residence at 98-01 101st Avenue in Ozone Park, owned by Ming Koo, has experienced significant and troubling events over the past three years, with the most serious incidents occurring in mid-2023. In August 2023, the building suffered a serious fire that resulted in injuries to three individuals, one critically, and exposed multiple safety concerns. The fire incident led to three active Department of Buildings violations, including damage to electrical equipment (burnt A/C unit and wires), the discovery of an illegal e-bike repair shop in the cellar with hazardous electrical hookups, and unauthorized occupancy of a third apartment.

The building has also been subject to structural concerns, receiving a Full Vacate Order and then a Partial Vacate Order related to building shaking, with a pending violation for failure to submit an acceptable inspection report for structurally compromised conditions. Prior to these critical incidents, the building had several violations related to unauthorized modifications. In late 2022-early 2023, there were multiple violations regarding illegal curb cuts and parking arrangements, with the property being cited for failure to maintain building code compliance and performing work without proper permits.

These included concerns about an illegally created parking pad and modifications to the sidewalk curb. The building's history also shows a pattern of occupancy violations, with evidence suggesting it was operating with three apartments instead of the permitted two-family configuration, as indicated in multiple complaints and violations. The sequence of events from 2022 through 2023 highlights significant regulatory non-compliance, safety concerns, and potentially dangerous living conditions, culminating in the serious fire incident that occurred in August 2023.