Gastonia native named president of New York City Housing Partnership

A Gastonia native and 1990 Hunter Huss graduate was recently named as president and CEO of the NYC Housing Partnership.

Jamie Smarr, who still has family in Gastonia, joins the Housing Partnership from The NHP Foundation where he led the non-profit’s Affiliate Program, which seeks joint venture affordable housing partnerships with other not-for-profits and community-based organizations.

Smarr has helped create more than 2,500 units of affordable housing through public-private partnerships in his public service career.

His experience also includes 11 years as executive director of the New York City Educational Construction Fund, which engages in public-private real estate development partnerships for the New York City school system, where he served five NYC School Chancellors.

During this tenure at ECF, Mr. Smarr was responsible for the creation of 3,000 new public school seats and over one million square feet of new residential and commercial space in New York City.

Smarr, 49, holds graduate degrees from Columbia University and Harvard University and received his bachelor degree from Duke University. He is also a Woodrow Wilson Public Policy and International Affairs Fellow, having completed the fellowship at Princeton University.

“We look forward to Jamie continuing and expanding the Housing Partnership’s vital role in facilitating the creation and preservation of affordable housing in New York City,” said James Hedden, board chairman of the NYC Housing Partnership.