Lawlor Appointed As New York State Housing Commissioner

By
3 min read

Gov. David Paterson has announced the appointment of Brian E. Lawlor as Commissioner of the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), and as CEO and President of “nyhomes.” The latter organization includes the New York Housing Finance Agency and the State of New York Mortgage Agency.

Although the two housing agencies will remain separate entities, the consolidation of the DHCR and ‘nyhomes’ leadership positions is the first step in the governor’s plan to create a single management structure.

Lawlor had been serving as Acting Commissioner of DHCR since January and before that as Executive Deputy Commissioner since 2007. During that time, he helped usher in a new era of increased coordination and collaboration between the state’s housing agencies, resulting in greater efficiency, reduced costs, and maximization of limited resources.

“Brian Lawlor brings more than 25 years of experience in the affordable housing field and is uniquely qualified to lead our housing agencies as they merge their administrative functions,” Governor Paterson said. “Having served in a number of executive policy-making positions, Brian is well prepared to fulfill our mission to provide safe and decent affordable housing for New York’s families, while also working to increase efficiency and reduce costs. I look forward to working with Brian as we continue to preserve and create affordable housing across the State.”

Commissioner Lawlor said: “The economic downturn has created a number of challenges for the affordable housing community, making it more important than ever before that the State’s housing agencies work together to help build, preserve and protect our affordable housing stock.”

From 1992 to 1994, Lawlor served as Assistant Secretary to the Governor for Housing and in 1994 as Counsel to the State Director of Housing. As Executive Deputy Commissioner of DHCR, he was instrumental in the administration of more than $700 million in stimulus funds in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, including the largest allocation of federal weatherization funds in the nation and more than $260 million in Tax Credit Assistance Program resources and State CDBG funds.

Miles M. Hapgood, III has joined Stratford Capital as Senior Vice President, in the affordable housing property acquisitions team at the Boston-based real estate investment and development firm. He is focusing on property acquisitions nationwide. Before joining Stratford Capital, Hapgood served as vice president and principal at a major national affordable housing syndication firm for more than 29 years.

Howard Sereda has been named as the new Senior Vice President of Portfolio Asset Acquisitions at National Equity Fund., Inc., a Chicago-based low-income housing tax credit syndicator. Sereda, previously at Centerline Capital Group, will oversee NEF’s third-party asset management business.

Carla A. Young, a former IRS attorney who worked on municipal bond matters, has joined the law firm of Greenberg Traurig LLP as a Shareholder in its Washington, D.C., and Tysons Corner, Va., offices.

Henry Korman has joined the Boston office of Klein Hornig LLP as Of Counsel. Before joining Klein Hornig he had his own firm with his practice including affordable housing development.

Dale McCormick has been approved to serve a second four-year term as Director of MaineHousing, the state’s housing finance agency.

Staff changes at the Kentucky Housing Corporation include Andrew Hawes, to Director of Multifamily Finance, and Rob Ellis, to Senior Director of Rental Programs.