21 East 104th Street, Manhattan

A subsidized East Harlem rental with strong affordability covenants, but a heavy paper trail of unresolved physical issues.

Built in 1930, this 32-unit building is fully subsidized under LIHTC and HUD structures. It was acquired in June 2017 by the Lott Legacy Apartments Housing Development Fund for $1,741,816.96, locking in long-term affordability covenants. However, physical operations show persistent friction. Three things to know:

The building carries 44 open violations, pointing to a persistent maintenance backlog. While day-to-day issues eventually get marked closed, the physical record holds dozens of active citations. Tenants face direct equipment friction, including an open appliance complaint filed on July 17, 2026. This indicates a highly visible paper trail of outstanding repairs.

Food-establishment activity on the surrounding blocks has drawn repeated complaints. Six food-establishment complaints were logged within three blocks over the last year, most recently on June 11, 2026, concentrating near the street-level retail spaces. Commercial exhaust and venting can easily seep into residential risers—an annoying detail that's hard to catch unless you live here.

Heat and hot water systems have generated consistent tenant friction. There are 20 heat and hot water complaints on the building's own record. While these calls are currently marked resolved, a pattern of 20 complaints indicates a system that struggles during seasonal transitions.

Quieter signals on this building and the blocks around it:

• 156 residential noise complaints within three blocks last year, mostly loud music and banging
• 36 illegal parking complaints in the surrounding blocks, with double-parking frequently blocking traffic
• 10 rodent complaints logged within three blocks over the past year, concentrated around trash disposal areas with the last seen July 7, 2026
• East Harlem street energy — the block is highly active, but the affordability covenants keep the residential base stable.

21 East 104th Street is a 32-unit building in Manhattan, New York City (BBL 1016100009). This building is associated with Ascendant Heritage LLC. Brix tracks 15 open HPD violations for this property, along with inspection history, DOB filings, tenant complaints, and rent stabilization status.

Built in 1930, this walk-up apartment building sits in Manhattan and is tracked by Brix using public NYC records from HPD, DOB, ACRIS, and 311.

Tenants have filed 405 HPD complaints about this building over the last five years, most often about heat/hot water.

What tenants have called the city about here over the last five years:

• Heat/hot Water: 254 complaints
• Plumbing: 29 complaints
• Water Leak: 21 complaints
• Unsanitary Condition: 20 complaints

The most recent complaint on this building was filed July 27, 2026.

Conditions cited on open violations at this address:

• § 27-2005 HMC: PROPERLY REPAIR OR REPLACE THE BROKEN OR DEFECTIVE REFRIGERATOR DOOR GASKET IN THE KITCHEN LOCATED AT APT 34, 3rd STORY, 2nd APARTMENT FROM NORTH
• HMC ADM CODE: § 27-2017
• §27-2104(B) HMC POST A PROPER NOTICE REGARDING RENT STABILIZATION LAW, IN A FORM APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER, IN A CONSPICUOUS LOCATION WITHIN THE COMMON AREA
• § 27-2005 ADM CODE REPAIR THE BROKEN OR DEFECTIVE PLASTERED SURFACES AND PAINT IN A UNIFORM COLOR AT CEILING IN THE KITCHEN LOCATED AT APT A, 1st STORY, 1st APA

The building last changed hands on June 29, 2017 for $1,741,816.96, according to recorded deeds.

Brix rating: Concerning (1/100). View the Building Report on Brix.

See every NYC building owned by Ascendant Heritage LLC on the landlord portfolio page.