Head of Housing Preservation Leaving Position

The head of the city's department of Housing Preservation and Development announced he's stepping down at the end of March after five years with the department. For nearly two of those years, Rafael Cestero has been commissioner.

Cestero said he took the job with the department during a tough economic time, and is proud of the accomplishments HPD has made in the past few years.

"I feel like the agency is really in a strong place and on solid footing to continue to move forward to create and preserve affordable housing and to strengthen and protect the city's housing stock," he said.

Cestero has accepted a job as managing director with L&M Development Partners. He said the opportunity will allow him to continue his work developing affordable housing.

In a statement, Mayor Michael Bloomberg praised Cestero's work developing the city's affordable housing initiative, as well as leading the city's efforts to create what the mayor called "the most aggressive foreclosure prevention program in the nation."

Cestero's final day as HPD commissioner is March 31. The city has not named his replacement. Cestero's departure is the latest of several high-profile resignations from the Bloomberg administration since he was elected to a third term in office.