New City Planners Plan To Bolster Affordable Housing Leadership

NEW YORK, NY — Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed Sideya Sherman as Chair of the City Planning Commission and Director of the Department of City Planning on Tuesday, while reappointing Eric Enderlin as President of the Housing Development Corporation and Edith Hsu-Chen as Executive Director of DCP.

Sherman, previously New York City’s Chief Equity Officer and Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice, brings decades of experience in urban planning, community engagement, and economic development. She served as Executive Director of the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity and spent over a decade at the New York City Housing Authority, overseeing resident engagement and partnerships.

Sherman will oversee the city’s long-term growth strategy, including neighborhood planning, land use, zoning, and initiatives to accelerate affordable housing on public land through the LIFT and SPEED task forces. The department will also implement recent City Charter changes aimed at approving housing projects faster and more equitably.

Hsu-Chen, who has led DCP since 2022, began at the agency as an intern in 1997 and rose through leadership roles, including Manhattan Director. She played a central role in delivering the City of Yes zoning reforms for sustainability, economic development, and housing.

“Over my career at DCP, I have seen how smart planning can deliver affordable housing, good jobs, vibrant neighborhoods, and a resilient city,” Hsu-Chen said. “I know we will have even more success with this incredible team.”

Enderlin, at HDC since 2016, leads the nation’s largest municipal housing finance agency, issuing over $2 billion in bonds annually and financing thousands of affordable homes each year.

“The HDC team and I will redouble our work to help deliver a city that every New Yorker can afford," Enderlin said.

Sherman emphasized her focus on equitable, community-centered planning.

“It’s an exciting time for city planning, with a mandate to deliver a city that New Yorkers can afford, and new tools to help make that a reality,” she said.

Sideya Sherman, a lifelong New Yorker with degrees in political science and urban affairs, has spent her career advancing equitable neighborhoods. From NYCHA to nonprofit initiatives, she has focused on connecting residents to resources and strengthening communities citywide.