Habitat director to lead Waterfront Alliance.

Roland Lewis, executive director of Habitat for Humanity--New York City since 1997, has been named president and CEO of the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance.

MWA, a project of the Municipal Art Society since 1999, was launched as an independent non-profit organization on April 1. It is the region's leading advocate for reclaiming the waterfront for improved public access, recreation and transportation.

"As private and public development at the water's edge proceeds at a gold-rush pace, it is abundantly clear that the need for a strong and independent voice on waterfront issues has never been greater," said Kent L. Barwick, president of MAS.

"Roland is the right person to lead MWA as it matures and tackles ever greater challenges in City Hall, Albany, 'Trenton and Washington, DC."

On both sides of the harbor, MWA has built an awareness of critical shorefront issues through public education, demonstration projects, timely issue conferences and the highly respected website, Waterwire.net. As the city continues to demonstrate creative new thinking and vigorous leadership on waterfront issues--including the vision of a unified harbor district--the need for a focused advocacy voice is clear.

A lifelong New Yorker, Lewis is deeply committed to the vision of a vibrant, healthy city, whether on the shorefront or inland.

"Just as Habitat-NYC works to create equity in housing, MWA will work to create equity for all residents of the region by giving open access to one of our greatest natural resources--our more than 700 miles of waterfront," Lewis said. "I'm proud to take the helm at MWA and honored to have a leadership role in guiding the development of our waterfront and harbors as shared resources to be enjoyed and cared for."

Carter Craft will continue to serve MWA as director of programming and operations.

Over the past decade, Lewis "grew" Habitat-NYC from a four-person staff to an influential 40-member organization with the ability to build more and better housing.

Locally and nationally, Lewis led Habitat affiliates in advocating for better public policy on housing, on the city, state and federal levels. Likewise, he was at the forefront of building affordable green homes that are healthy and energy-efficient.

A 1982 graduate of Columbia University, Lewis earned a master's in city and regional planning and a law degree from Rutgers University in 1988. He began his career in affordable housing as a partner in the law firm of Dellapa, Lewis and Perseo. He currently serves on the board of the New York Foundation and served as co-chair of Housing First!.