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J

James Hefelfinger

Head Officer·13 buildings·207 units
3.8

14 reviews

Highlights

2
Evictions
2
Litigation cases

Renter recommendations

-%

Renters recommend associated buildings

-%

Renters approve of this owner or associate

Review summary

Summarized from anonymous rental reviews on Openigloo.

Tenant feedback for buildings managed by James Hefelfinger reveals a mixed management experience. Positively, several buildings benefit from responsive managers, attentive supers, good maintenance, and cleanliness, especially at locations near West 104th and 220 West 104th Street. Residents appreciate timely heat, strong water pressure, and laundry facilities. However, major concerns include pest infestations (notably roaches), poor ventilation, frequent noise disturbances, and safety issues, particularly at 525 West 49th Street where drug activity and mold problems persist. Some tenants report slow owner responsiveness and significant rent hikes in non-rent-stabilized buildings. Overall, while many enjoy well-maintained properties, others advise improvements in security, pest control, and management responsiveness.

Reviews

Former tenant·39 minutes ago

AVOID THIS BUILDING

Pros

large units and what seems like affordable rent until they jack it up insane prices upon your renewal. Hook line and sinker The super is really great.

Cons

The building has a drug ring operating out of a unit on the 1st floor. You will have meth addicts trying to get their fix from the dealer and when they’re turned away because they don’t have enough money they steal your packages from the lobby to sell for cash to buy drugs. The building is NOT SAFE. We moved out because we feared for our safety. The Managment does nothing about it. There is black mold in the bathrooms that gets painted over and no ventilation for the units. The exhaust vents do not work. The rent increases insane amounts and we struggled to pay. STAY AWAY. While we lived here the building had a HORRIBLE roach infestation as well the pest management company that was supposed to come never did. Avoid this building for your health and safety.

Advice to the owners

Fix the safety issue of the building. Install security cameras and a new video intercom system. It is 2026 there is no reason you can’t have these simple features in your building. Replace the ventilation and get proper exhaust fan duct work done to address the black mold.

Former tenant·13 hours ago

Not the best.

Pros

Location Larger apartments than average for nyc Elevator (when it works) Trash chute Dishwasher Was affordable

Cons

ROACH INFESTATION ultimately the reason I moved Not rent stabilized. The landlord has raised the rent substantially over the years and it is not worth the price. Location. You essentially live on 11th Ave and it is a long walk just to access a local subway station. The building is isolated Very kind super but slow to fix anything Broken down elevator frequently BROKEN VENTILATION. The building hallways and apts have exhaust vents to help with airflow and they do not work. In the summer it’s not uncommon for mold and mildew and putrid smells which also encourages roaches. NOISE the floors in this building are paper thin creaky and have zero sound insulation. You will hear every single footstep above you. There is no peace or quiet if you are not on the top.!!!! BROKEN WASHERS AND DRYERS There used to be one more dryer and washer they had removed and 3/5 of the dryers don’t work 2/5 washers do not work. The vents probably need cleaned out on the dryers and the washer units need all replaced with larger more industrial front loaders. The management along with the laundry company are unresponsive. While living here I ended up having to do drop off wash and fold often because I do not have the time or money to waste waiting on two washers to hope they get my clothes clean.

Advice to the owners

FIX THE ROACH PROBLEM FIX THE VENTILATION FOR THE BUILDING AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD REPLACE THE LAUNDRY ROOM OR HIRE ANOTHER COMPANY TO MANAGE IT!!!! Do not raise rent on tenants who increasingly live in an inferior building.

Buildings associated with JAMES HEFELFINGER

  • 525 West 49 Street
    Good cause

    525 West 49 Street

    1.9(2)

    Hell's Kitchen

  • 251 West 74 Street
    Rent-stabilized

    251 West 74 Street

    Upper West Side

  • 29 Cooper Street
    Rent-stabilized

    29 Cooper Street

    3.5(1)

    Inwood

  • 214 West 104 Street
    Rent-stabilized

    214 West 104 Street

    3.3(4)

    All Upper West Side

525 West 49 Street
Good cause

525 West 49 Street

1.9(2)

Hell's Kitchen

251 West 74 Street
Rent-stabilized

251 West 74 Street

Upper West Side

29 Cooper Street
Rent-stabilized

29 Cooper Street

3.5(1)

Inwood

214 West 104 Street
Rent-stabilized

214 West 104 Street

3.3(4)

All Upper West Side

Building ratings

Cleanliness

-

Trash management

-

Pest control

-

Water pressure

-

Heat

-

Neighbors

-

Noise levels

-

Owner responsiveness

-

Cleanliness

-

Trash management

-

Pest control

-

Water pressure

-

Heat

-

Neighbors

-

Noise levels

-

Owner responsiveness

-

Rents and deposits

-

Renters received their security deposits back

-

Electronic rent payments

Open violations

From past 10 years · Updated 5 days ago

Average violations per unit for this owner or associate is better than the city average.

Owner average0.11Violations per unit
NYC average0.81Violations per unit
8Class C
Immediately hazardous

Rodents, pest, mold, inadequate heat or hot water, defective building parts

11Class B
Hazardous

Smoke detector issues, inadequate lighting, no lighting for stairways

3Class A
Non-hazardous

No peephole on a door, no street number on the building, unlawful keeping of animals

2Class I
Missing info

Missing or non-compliant with administrative information orders or filings

J

James Hefelfinger

Head Officer·13 buildings·207 units
3.8

14 reviews

Follow us

For renters

Apartments for rent in NYCRenting tips and resourcesVerified apartment listings in NYCBuildings and owners in NYCBuildings in BostonNYC market analysis reports

For landlords

iglooIQListings quality policy

Trending neighborhoods

Apartments in AstoriaApartments in Bedford-StuyvesantApartments in BushwickApartments in ChelseaApartments in Financial DistrictApartments in SohoApartments in Upper East SideApartments in Upper West SideApartments in West VillageApartments in Williamsburg

NYC boroughs

Apartments in BronxApartments in BrooklynApartments in ManhattanApartments in QueensApartments in Staten Island

2-bedroom apartments

2-bedroom apartments in Bronx2-bedroom apartments in Brooklyn2-bedroom apartments in Manhattan2-bedroom apartments in Queens2-bedroom apartments in Staten Island

Support

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© 2026 Openigloo Inc. All rights reserved.

Available apartments associated with JAMES HEFELFINGER

    • 525 West 49 Street #5D, Manhattan, NY 10019 apartment_bedroom_room 1
    Verified
    Good cause
    Hell's Kitchen·1 bed, 1.5 baths
    1.9(2)

    525 West 49 Street #5D

    $5,000
    • 251 West 74 Street #5B, Manhattan, NY 10023 apartment_living_room 1
    Rent-stabilized
    Upper West Side·1 bed, 1 bath

    251 West 74 Street #5B

    $4,800
    • 57 East 77 Street #C, Manhattan, NY 10075 apartment_bedroom_room 1
    Rent-stabilized
    Good cause
    Lenox Hill·1 bed, 1 bath

    57 East 77 Street #C

    $4,500
    • 251 West 74 Street #2A, Manhattan, NY 10023 apartment_living_room 1
    Future
    Rent-stabilized
    Upper West Side·1 bed, 1 bath

    251 West 74 Street #2A

  • 525 West 49 Street #5D, Manhattan, NY 10019 apartment_bedroom_room 1
Verified
Good cause
Hell's Kitchen·1 bed, 1.5 baths
1.9(2)

525 West 49 Street #5D

$5,000
  • 251 West 74 Street #5B, Manhattan, NY 10023 apartment_living_room 1
Rent-stabilized
Upper West Side·1 bed, 1 bath

251 West 74 Street #5B

$4,800
  • 57 East 77 Street #C, Manhattan, NY 10075 apartment_bedroom_room 1
Rent-stabilized
Good cause
Lenox Hill·1 bed, 1 bath

57 East 77 Street #C

$4,500
  • 251 West 74 Street #2A, Manhattan, NY 10023 apartment_living_room 1
Future
Rent-stabilized
Upper West Side·1 bed, 1 bath

251 West 74 Street #2A