Responsible for Day-to-Day Operations and Implementation of Strategic Reforms

June 23, 2009, New York, NY – Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Rafael E. Cestero announced today that Douglas Apple, General Manager of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) will become HPD First Deputy Commissioner, effective September 1, 2009. In this new role, Mr. Apple will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the agency and leading the implementation of the Commissioner’s overall strategic vision.

“Doug is an incredible public servant. I am very excited that he will be joining the HPD team as First Deputy Commissioner,” said Commissioner Cestero. “Doug’s 22 years of experience will be essential to HPD at this crucial time in our history. He will lead our agency-wide reorganization initiative in conjunction with the recast New Housing Marketplace plan that we will roll out later this summer. Doug gets where we are going—he has the strategic vision, expertise, leadership ability and know-how to help HPD adapt to a changing economic climate and help us meet our—and the Mayor's—commitment to preserve or build 165,000 units of affordable housing for New Yorkers.”

HPD is the agency responsible for carrying out Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s $7.5 billion New Housing Marketplace Plan (NHMP) to create and preserve 165,000 units of affordable housing. The NHMP is part of the Mayor’s Five Borough Economic Opportunity Plan aimed at bringing New York City through the current economic downturn as quickly as possible. To date, the NHMP has created or preserved over 85,000 units of affordable housing. 

“Doug Apple has served NYCHA extremely well during his eight year tenure,” said NYCHA Chairman John B. Rhea.  “Doug substantially improved the authority’s financial planning and four-year budget processes; implemented a data-driven measurement system and helped implement NYCHA’s Plan to Preserve Public Housing in New York City during a period when there was significant disinvestment in public housing.  Since I become Chairman Doug has been a key member of the senior leadership team and I will continue to seek his expertise during this transition period,” Rhea added.

Mr. Apple has served the City for more than 22 years, holding significant leadership posts. During his eight-year tenure at NYCHA, he is credited with substantially improving the authority’s financial planning and four-year budget processes; implementing a data-driven measurement system and helping implement NYCHA’s Plan to Preserve Public Housing in New York City during a period when there was significant disinvestment in public housing.

As NYCHA General Manager, he is the Chief Operating Officer responsible for the day-to-day operating of the nation’s largest public housing agency, with 343 residential developments spread across the City; the administration of the country’s largest residential assistance program that assists more than 84,000 additional households, and managing an annual budget in excess of more than $3.4 billion dollars in federal, state and local assistance.

Mr. Apple came to NYCHA from the City’s Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) where he directed the operations of DJJ’s three secure and fourteen non-secure detention facilities. This included oversight of the Court Services and all detention programming including health, mental health, and substance abuse intervention services, education, and recreation.

While at DJJ, he also served as Deputy Commissioner for Administration where he directed all finance, human resources, planning and analysis, procurement, and community-based delinquency prevention programs.

Mr. Apple is a graduate of Boston University and attended the Wagner School of Public Administration at New York University. He graduated from the New York City Leadership Institute and completed the prestigious LaGuardia Fellows Program.

NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)

HPD’s mission is to promote quality housing and viable neighborhoods for New Yorkers. It is the nation’s largest municipal housing preservation and development agency. Responsible for implementing Mayor Bloomberg’s New Housing Marketplace Plan to build and preserve 165,000 units of affordable housing. HPD also actively promotes the preservation of affordable housing through education, outreach, loan programs and enforcement of housing quality standards. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/hpd.

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