Singer counters ‘slumlord’ label

Baruch Singer, whose name is rarely printed without being prefaced by the words “notorious slumlord,” says that the meat and potatoes of his business involves placing working professionals in “junk” buildings, and that his tenants play a big role in gentrifying areas of the city. “Everybody we put in are professional people,” said Singer. “Very nice professional people. We have had people in Cirque de Soleil, Urinetown, Beauty and the Beast. We are a good-luck charm for people.” The majority of Singer’s holdings are in Harlem and Washington Heights; he says that he currently owns around 100 rent-stabilized buildings and plans to sell 20 of them. Singer says that his reputation dates back to various articles about him that began appearing in the late ’90s, but that the media has often used him as a scapegoat. In recent years the city has recorded a significant drop in the number of housing violations associated with Singer’s buildings. more [NYO]