A developer of the swanky Printing House apartment in the West Village is reportedly living “for free” in the building’s $20 million “premier” block — while his irate neighbors must make up for the difference, according to court papers and residents.
Barnet Liberman and his partner made history when they converted the former print shop building at 421 Hudson St. into apartments in 1979, one of the first such conversions approved in the city.
The property features an Equinox gym and a rooftop pool with spectacular views. The loft-style units with oversized windows have been viewed by celebrities, including Spiderman actor Andrew Garfield.
Liberman and his wife, Phyllis, occupy a penthouse apartment of at least 2,845 square feet. By Liberman’s own estimate, it could be worth anywhere from $6 million to $20 million.
The couple have built up a hefty debt, the flat claims, urging to foreclose and sell the unit, court records show.
The monthly community fee of $3,160 has gone unpaid since January 2019, according to a lawsuit filed in 2020 against the Libermans and the LLC that owns the unit, among other defendants.
And an August 2021 bill sent to the Libermans shows a debt of $609,530, which includes fines for violating building regulations such as leaving packages in the lobby and illegal gas pipes to the unit, according to court papers.
An angry resident of the building said: “All residents, including myself, pay 30 percent more while he lives in that apartment for free. It’s outrageous.”
Liberman was unimpressed by the outrage at the reviews shared by the other condo owners.
“My heart goes out to them,” he told The Post.
He declined to comment on how much he could owe, saying it is up to the court to decide.
Meanwhile, Liberman filed for bankruptcy in 2021, owing $123 million to a laundry list of creditors, including his wife, children and a pest control company in the Hamptons, where he owns a mansion.
Security videos show that Liberman spends most of his time in the print shop, not East Hampton property, as he is trying to claim in bankruptcy proceedings, according to court papers. He asks for a leasehold exemption for the mansion, which will allow him to keep it.
Liberman told The Post that the Hamptons estate is the only home he owns. He and his wife transferred ownership of the Printing House apartment to an LLC in 2013, then donated most of the entity to their five children.
He said he paid $35,000 a month in rent to the LLC, but declined to say who got the money.