Public records show Flatbush building has hundreds of violations 2 years after fire

Public records show that the building currently has 391 open violations.

Katelynn Ulrich

Nov 8, 2024, 11:49 AM

Updated 48 days ago

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Two years after a fire devastated an apartment building in Flatbush, residents are still dealing with hundreds of open violations and ongoing displacement.
The fire at 80 Clarkson Ave., which occurred in 2022, was caused by faulty electrical wiring in the building.
The blaze left several apartments uninhabitable, and one tenant says she has yet to return to their home.
"I pop in periodically and have my stuff in a storage unit," she said. "Where are you sleeping?" she was asked. "I sleep at my girlfriend’s house," she replied.
This week, tenants reported issues, including electricity outages and broken elevators.
"I'm holding it together talking to you. I'm sleeping and thinking, am I going to go in my sleep?" said a resident who didn't want to be identified.
Residents say they’ve tried contacting the building management, J. Wasser & Company, but often don't receive a response.
Public records show that the building currently has 391 open violations.
In 2023, News 12 reported that Brian Ritter owned the building and ranked the second-worst landlord on the Public Advocate's list. According to current public records, the building is now owned by Mark Jacob.
News 12 contacted the property management company for comment but has not responded.
The city’s Housing Preservation and Development Department was also contacted regarding the building’s violations but has yet to respond.