147-40 228th Street, Queens, NY 11413

The two-family house at 147-40 228th Street in Springfield Gardens, owned by Derrick Trotz, has experienced several significant maintenance and regulatory issues over recent years. Most recently, in September 2023, there were two documented incidents of heavy water leaks, along with ongoing concerns about unsanitary conditions related to garbage and recycling storage.

Of particular concern are three open violations from October 2023, including an unlawful cooking space with a gas range in the cellar, illegal plumbing fixtures (wash basin, water closet, shower stall, and kitchen sink) in the cellar, and the illegal conversion of the building from a private dwelling to a multiple dwelling status. These violations have been formally acknowledged through an Environmental Control Board (ECB) violation issued in October 2023, with a penalty of $2,500. Looking back at the building's history, there were notable heating system failures in November 2018, when two separate complaints regarding lack of heat and hot water in the second-floor apartment were filed, resulting in violations being issued.

The building is currently listed as having an active ECB violation regarding occupancy contrary to its Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) records, specifically related to an allegedly illegal Class "A" apartment in the cellar. There was also a recent Department of Buildings (DOB) complaint filed in October 2023 regarding illegal conversion, which was still under investigation as of August 2024. The property has undergone some permitted work in 2023, with a permit for electrical work issued on May 8, 2023, though the specific nature of this work is not detailed in the available records.