Henry Cisneros has received the 2020 John Zuccotti Award from the Regional Plan Association.
The think tank’s highest award for leadership in the New York metropolitan region is named after John Zuccotti, a long-serving member of the RPA board of directors and executive committee. The award recognizes a leader who has made extraordinary contributions to the built environment the tri-state metropolitan region.
Cisneros, who was secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from 1992 to 1997 under President Clinton, is chairman, co-chief investment officer and co-founder of infrastructure asset firm American Triple I Partners; chairman of the executive committee of ATI’s affiliate Siebert Williams Shank & Co.; and co-founder of CityView.
At CityView, he has invested in and completed more than 100 real asset projects in 13 states and oversaw the deployment of $5 billion of asset value and the formation of eight funds. In his work in the private sector, he has continued to work to create homes priced within the range of average families.
RPA in a statement called Cisneros, 72, “a visionary and transformative leader in community-building and affordable housing.”
After three terms as a City Council member in San Antonio, Cisneros in 1981 became the first Hispanic-American mayor of a major U.S. city. During his four terms as mayor, he helped rebuild the city’s economic base and championed infrastructure and downtown improvements ranging from a new airport terminal to underground flood diversion for the city’s Riverwalk.
“At a time when healthy, decent affordable housing is out of reach for so many residents of the region, we are excited to honor and celebrate Henry Cisneros’ leadership,” RPA said.
While in Clinton’s cabinet, Cisneros expanded housing opportunities through the Section 8 rental voucher program and programs for first-time homeowners.
Former U.S. Vice President and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden won the inaugural Zuccotti Award in 2017. Amtrak Chairman Anthony Coscia and Alicia Glen, former New York Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development and founder of women.nyc were the subsequent winners.
Zuccotti, a former city deputy mayor, was chairman of global operations with real estate firm Brookfield and championed the revival of Lower Manhattan after Sept. 11. Zuccotti Park in that neighborhood bears his name.
