Mayor Rahm Emanuel Thursday named Charles Woodyard, former head of the Charlotte Housing Authority, as the new CEO of the Chicago Housing authority.
The position had been vacant since June when former chief executive Lewis Jordan resigned amid questions about how he used his city-issued credit card.
Emanuel said in a release that he wanted someone with real world experience in handling complex real estate deals.
“Charles Woodyard has proven management ability and a history of innovation in public housing, and is the right man to lead the CHA to the successful completion of its Plan for Transformation and beyond,” said Mayor Emanuel.
Woodyard resigned his position in Charlotte to take the Chicago job. One of his first pieces of business could be to clear out remaining housing at Cabrini Green -- a number of row houses -- and pushing along the mayor's "Plan for Transformation" of the housing authority.
The housing authority currently provides residence to more than 17,000 seniors and serves more than 37,000 families. The plan would create 25,000 units of fully rehabilitated or renovated housing by 2015.
Perhaps more importantly than the announcement of a new CEO, is news that the Charmian of the board of the CHA will no longer receive compensation for his services.
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The former CHA Chairman received a $100,000 per year salary.
