2026 Ones To Watch - Rising Stars: Christopher Moyer, NYC Public Housing Preservation Trust

“Chris is a key member of the project finance and development team. While he regularly leverages his strong commitment to, and in-depth experience with, RAD/Section 8 conversions, public housing is also an academic focus for Chris. He and his co-author/curator Susanne Schindler developed a case study and a current (2026) exhibit at the National Public Housing Museum related to his prior work at the Cambridge Housing Authority. Chris’ creative thinking and commitment are a gift to the industry.” 

What inspired you to pursue a career in your industry, and what path brought you to your current role?

My career path began with a lifelong fascination with cities, shaped by growing up between New York and Tokyo. I’ve always loved riding transit, walking around neighborhoods, and questioning how we organize our lives spatially and the priorities that take precedent. This interest led me to study architectural history, where I was introduced to the promises and failures of Pruitt-Igoe. It sparked a deeper interest in understanding how housing outcomes are shaped not just by design, but by policy, management, and social conditions, which I bring to my current role in public housing redevelopment.

Who has been a mentor or influential figure in your career, and what is the most valuable advice they have shared with you?

The person who introduced me to public/affordable housing as a career is Susanne Schindler. I took her urban housing class in graduate school when I was struggling to straddle different degrees in architecture and urban planning. Her course connected the dots between design, policy, and financing by highlighting the challenges and opportunities of building public, affordable, and cooperative housing. In my work today, I try to embrace the tension between these disciplines to strengthen affordable housing that is owned, managed, and developed publicly, and to improve the lives of our residents.