Bloomberg Taps City Hall Veteran as Housing Chief

NEW YORK CITY-Two days after announcing the first closed deal in a pilot program to turn stalled projects into affordable multifamily units, the Bloomberg administration has named a new housing chief. Matthew Wambua will become the next commissioner at the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development, replacing Rafael Cestero, who will leave at month’s end to work in the private sector. Wambua starts in his new post on April 4.

In contrast to some of his recent decisions to fill key positions with candidates from outside city government, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has tapped a nine-year veteran of his administration to lead HPD. Wambua has served most recently as EVP of real estate and external relations for the New York City Housing Development Corp., a position he’s held since 2008. Previously, he served as senior policy advisor to Daniel Doctoroff, then the deputy mayor for economic development. He also served as VP for special projects with the New York City Economic Development Corp.

At HPD, Wambua will oversee the city’s ambitious New Marketplace Housing Plan, which aims to preserve or build 165,000 units of affordable housing. The program recently passed the 100,000-unit mark.

“I am well aware that I am riding the wake of some very talented and visionary leaders,” Wambua says in a statement. “Over the years, they have been my colleagues, mentors and friends. Having worked side-by-side with Shaun Donovan and Rafael Cestero in creating and implementing the mayor’s New Housing Marketplace Plan, I am looking forward to taking on this new responsibility of leading HPD and bringing the housing plan to the finish line.”

Cestero recently announced his move to L&M Development Corp., where he’ll serve as managing director. He will concentrate on projects outside of New York City. Donovan, his predecessor at HPD, became Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Obama administration in 2009.