Two NYC Elevator Owners Cited for Worn Parts, Blocked Machine Rooms

Two building owners were found in violation of New York City's elevator maintenance code this week, according to OATH/ECB hearing records, with inspectors citing worn parts and blocked access points at both sites.

At 359 East 62 Street in Manhattan, respondent 359 Beta I was found in violation on October 8 following a hearing before OATH's Manhattan9 tribunal, per OATH/ECB records. The violation, dated August 4, cited worn hoistway door gibs, worn car door gibs, a misaligned operator, and a machine room with no provided means of access. The charge was filed under Administrative Code 28-304, failure to maintain an elevator or conveying system, with a total violation amount of $625. OATH records show the case closed with all terms met and no outstanding balance.

At 56 Box Street in Brooklyn, respondent 56 Box LLC was found in violation on October 7 following a hearing before OATH's Brooklyn 3 tribunal, per OATH/ECB records. The violation, dated July 28, cited misaligned cab mirrors, worn gibs needing replacement, an inoperative car phone, and an unlocked controller room door. Inspector notes in the record also raised a question about the emergency brake repeatedly engaging. The charge was filed under the same code section, 28-304, with a total violation amount of $625 and the case marked all terms met.

Both cases carry no stated injuries and no stop-work order in the record reviewed. Separately, DOB's complaint system logged three new active complaints in the past two days unrelated to these two cases — one each at 462 2nd Avenue in Manhattan (general complaint, category 53), 747 Sheridan Avenue in the Bronx (elevator-related, category 6M), and 1022 East 36 Street in Brooklyn (boiler-related, category 58). These complaints remain open and unverified; a complaint entry is not a finding of violation.

For contractors and building managers, elevator maintenance violations under 28-304 are among the more routine OATH findings citywide, but they underscore a pattern inspectors return to repeatedly: worn gibs, misaligned doors, and blocked machine-room access. Owners and maintenance contractors working under service agreements at multi-family or commercial buildings should treat machine-room access and door-gib wear as standing checklist items ahead of any DOB elevator inspection.

Full hearing records for both cases are available through the NYC OATH/ECB case status database. The three open DOB complaints can be tracked by complaint number through DOB NOW or the DOB complaint status lookup.