37 Ely Street, Staten Island, NY 10301

The two-family house at 37 Ely Street in Tompkinsville, owned by Robert Galpern, has experienced several recurring maintenance issues over the past few years. Most notably, there have been multiple heat and water-related problems, including a recent heat/hot water complaint in May 2025 that could not be inspected due to lack of access, and three documented water leak complaints between 2022-2023 (one heavy flow in 2022, and one slow leak in 2023 that also suffered from access issues).

The building has faced access issues for inspection on several occasions, most recently in the 2025 heat complaint, as well as in 2019 when inspectors could not gain entry regarding construction work. The property has also dealt with rodent issues, with a rat sighting reported in April 2025 resulting in documented violations according to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

The building's history shows multiple door/window complaints, including a door frame issue in 2023 and a door problem in 2022, though no violations were issued in these cases. The Department of Buildings records from 2018-2019 indicate concerns about potential illegal conversions and construction violations, though these complaints were ultimately closed, with one vacate order being fully rescinded and another violation being dismissed in July 2019. While there have been various maintenance and compliance issues in recent years, many of these complaints were closed without violations being issued, though the recurring nature of heat, water, and access-related problems is notable.