119-51 Metropolitan Avenue, Queens, NY 11415

The 31-unit, 4-story New Law Tenement building at 119-51 Metropolitan Avenue in Kew Gardens, owned by Teddy Nictas and constructed in 1925, has experienced recurring heating and hot water issues throughout 2023-2025, with multiple emergency complaints from residents indicating ongoing system problems. Most recently, in March 2025 alone, there were three separate complaints about lack of heat or hot water, some of which HPD could not inspect due to access issues. The building has also faced various maintenance challenges, including electrical issues with lighting and wiring (September 2023), plumbing problems (March 2025), and reports of mold (March 2025).

Two significant Open violations from October 2023 remain outstanding: one regarding unsafe electrical wiring conditions involving extension cords and light fixtures in the stairway, and another concerning a missing concrete landing pad at the fire escape. The property has a concerning history of emergency complaints, particularly related to heat and hot water systems, with at least ten such incidents recorded between December 2023 and March 2025. The building's management has multiple active Department of Buildings violations from 2019-2021 regarding failure to file required energy use benchmarking reports and energy efficiency documentation.

Historical issues include problems with fire escape access, self-closing doors, and various maintenance deficiencies noted in violation records. While recent bedbug reporting shows no infestations from 2019 through 2024, and rodent inspections in 2015 demonstrated compliance (though with one initial failure), these historical records don't fully capture the current state of building maintenance. The building's management has exhibited some pattern of inadequate maintenance response, as evidenced by multiple cases of HPD being unable to gain access for inspections during emergency complaints, which suggests potential barriers to proper maintenance and inspection procedures.