2159 1st Avenue, Manhattan

Prewar East Harlem co-op operating under an income-restricted structural covenant.

Built in 1920, this 30-unit cooperative operates as a Housing Development Fund Corporation, carrying a regulatory agreement dating back to November 2016. Because of this specialized structure, purchase prices are permanently capped to maintain affordability for local buyers. Four things to know:

The cooperative framework relies on strict regulatory caps rather than market pricing. Unit transactions are tied to strict household income guidelines and capped resale values, like a purchase for $346,000 in November 2022 and another transfer for $280,000 in July 2017. These values do not float with the general market; the restrictions protect affordability over the long term.

The building carries three open housing-code violations. While the overall open violation count is low, three items remain unresolved in the official listings. The building's historical track record shows relatively quick attention to complaints, with issues like a heat outage in December 2025 and water supply issues in January 2026 being resolved within days.

Local restaurant venting and building air quality are active concerns on these blocks. Within three blocks, there are 13 indoor air quality reports and 8 kitchen-venting complaints over the last year, mostly focused on ground-floor restaurant ventilation systems. The commercial mix down on the avenue means odors can drift up via exterior vents or unsealed risers.

Street noise and outdoor music are a regular part of life on this block. In the blocks around the building, street energy is high, with 275 street-noise complaints and 181 commercial-noise calls over the last year, most of which are logged as loud music or outdoor parties. The heavy footprint of avenue traffic and block activity is a major element of the weekend experience.

Quieter signals on this building and the blocks around it:

• ⚠️ 21 encampment reports within three blocks in the past year, with the most recent filed in 2026
• 🧪 A resident requested a lead-testing kit in late 2025
• 🐀 14 rodent complaints within three blocks in the past year, though none have been recorded against this building itself
• With an affordability structure keeping purchase costs low, block-level noise and smells are the key on-the-ground factors.

2159 1st Avenue is a 30-unit building in Manhattan, New York City (BBL 1016830027). This building is associated with The City Of New York. Brix tracks 3 open HPD violations for this property, along with inspection history, DOB filings, tenant complaints, and rent stabilization status.

Built in 1920, this elevator apartment building sits in Manhattan and is tracked by Brix using public NYC records from HPD, DOB, ACRIS, and 311.

Tenants have filed 14 HPD complaints about this building over the last five years, most often about unsanitary condition.

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

• Unsanitary Condition: 6 complaints
• Plumbing: 3 complaints
• General: 2 complaints
• Heat/hot Water: 2 complaints

The most recent complaint on this building was filed January 8, 2026.

Conditions cited on open violations at this address:

• § 27-2013 ADM CODE PAINT WITH LIGHT COLORED PAINT TO THE SATISFACTION OF THIS DEPARTMENT THE CEILING AND ALL WALLS IN THE ENTIRE APARTMENT LOCATED AT APT 6E, 6t
• (A) § HMC:FILE ANNUAL BEDBUG REPORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH HPD RULE AS DESCRIBED ON THE BACK OF THIS NOTICE OF VIOLATION OR AS DESCRIBED ON HPDS WEBSITE, WWW
• HMC ADM CODE: § 27-2017

The building last changed hands on November 10, 2022 for $346,000, according to recorded deeds.

Brix score: 55/100. View the Building Report on Brix.

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