December 31, 1969
Oct. 13, 2011 — Paul Backalenick has been the president at 24-42 Bennett Avenue, a 56-unit cooperative in the Hudson Heights section of Manhattan, for three years. Replacing an autocratic, unpopular chief executive, Backalenick brought an easygoing style, seeking out consensus, not confrontation. He has had great success in changing the tone of the talk – and in accomplishing a major capital improvement project involving the roof.
Backalenick sat down over breakfast with Habitat's editorial director, Tom Soter, to talk about life in this co-op.