Development group Tishman Speyer has announced the creation of a new "affordable housing platform" within its organization designed to spur the development of new affordable housing projects across the New York City area. 

Real Estate Weekly reports that Tishman Speyer has hired real estate executive Gary Rodney to "source opportunities to acquire, redevelop, and engage in ground-up construction of quality housing that is affordable to low- and middle-income New Yorkers throughout the five boroughs."

Rodney comes to Tishman Speyer after serving as Chairman of development firm CREA, LLC and after a previous run as President of the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), a key player in New York City's affordable housing market. The creation of this new affordable housing arm comes as the New York City region pushes to increase the number of affordable housing units developed across the area.