20 Bowery
Composite verdict
This 116-year-old walk-up at 20 Bowery has serious red flags across multiple dimensions. HPD shows 16 open violations including 2 Class C (immediately hazardous) — one of which is a defective fire escape drop ladder that has been open for 5,981 days (over 16 years) with no resolution, reflecting a landlord response rated 'slow' and an HPD score of 20/F. The crime score is 0/100 (F grade) with 22 sex crimes among 71 total incidents nearby, and 311 records show 98 HEAT/HOT WATER complaints and 228 noise complaints in the past 12 months. The one clear positive is that all 21 units are rent-stabilized with zero deregulations since 2007.
Class B
Class C
past 12 months
units
(out of 100)
rent
rating
min walk
(311 complaints)
errands grade
nearby
- There is an open Class C HPD violation for a defective fire escape drop ladder that has been unresolved for 5,981 days — over 16 years. What is the current status of that repair, and why has it not been corrected?
- 311 records show 98 HEAT/HOT WATER complaints in the area in the past 12 months. Has the building had heating or hot water outages, and what is the landlord's typical response time when heat or hot water fails?
- HPD lists 16 open violations total — 5 Class A, 9 Class B, and 2 Class C — with a landlord response rated 'slow.' Can you provide a written timeline for when each open violation will be remediated?
- Crime data shows 22 sex crimes and 71 total incidents nearby, with a score of 0/100 (F grade). What specific security measures are in place — locks, intercom, lighting, cameras — and have there been any incidents inside the building?
- All 21 units are rent-stabilized with zero deregulations since 2007. Can you confirm in writing that this specific unit is rent-stabilized, provide the current legal regulated rent, and show the rent history for the past four years?
- The building was built in 1910 and is 116 years old. What major systems — boiler, plumbing, electrical, roof — have been updated, and when? Are there any known capital improvement assessments or MCI rent increases pending?
- Physically inspect the fire escape, particularly the south drop ladder and its flat bar guides — the HPD Class C violation describes them as broken, defective, or missing, and it has been open for over 16 years. Confirm whether the ladder is actually functional and safe.
- Check the boiler room or utility areas for posted inspection certificates, and test hot water pressure and temperature in the unit during the showing — 98 HEAT/HOT WATER complaints in the past year suggest this is a recurring issue in the building.
- Walk the common areas — stairwells, hallways, lobby, and building entrance — of this 4-floor walk-up to assess lighting quality, lock integrity on the front door, and general maintenance condition, given the F-grade crime score and slow landlord response rating.
20 Bowery sits in Manhattan, ZIP 10013. The closest subway is Grand St (B,D) (6-minute walk), served by the 4, 5, 6, B, D, F, J, N, Q, R, W, and Z lines. Within an 800-meter walk you'll find 287 restaurants, 97 cafes, 62 groceries, and 47 pharmacies — a walkable-errands grade of A. Nearby public schools include P.S. 124 Yung Wing (grades Pre-K to 5), a 1-minute walk. Noise activity over the past 12 months is very high noise activity — 228 noise complaints filed via 311, mostly street and sidewalk noise. NYPD CompStat data places this precinct at a 0/100 safety score.
- Class C · 2 open · penalty 30 · (15/ea)
- Class B · 9 open · penalty 45 · (5/ea)
- Class A · 5 open · penalty 5 · (1/ea)
- Jun 20, 2023 "VIOLATION ISSUED-FAILURE TO FILE 2018 EXTERNAL LOW PRESSURE INSPECTION"
- Sep 2, 2020 "FAILURE TO CERTIFY CORRECTION ON IMMEDIATELY HAZARDOUS (CLASS 1) ECB VIOLATION"
- Nov 8, 2019 "VIOLATION ISSUED FOR FAILURE TO FILE ANNUAL BOILER 2017 INSPECTION REPORT"
- HUNG CHONG IMPORTS, INC.
- CONFUCIUS PHARMACY INC.
- YAP, JOSEPHINE
- P.S. 124 Yung Wing
- P.S. 001 Alfred E. Smith
- Grand St (B,D)
- Canal St (6,J,Z,N,Q,R,W)
- Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall/Chambers St (4,5,6,J,Z)
- East Broadway (F)
- Bowery (J,Z)
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