East Harlem.Com

December 1999 - Mr. Henry Comas, a life long resident of New York City, has dedicated himself to improving living conditions in his community through his work in youth services and housing and economic development. A 40-year-old father of one, Mr. Comas is fully bilingual and bi-cultural.In the winter of 1999, Mr. Comas was chosen to participate as a US Department of Housing, Urban and Development Community Builder Fellow. The program was designed to advance the department’s mission and to serve as the initial point of contact and critical link for communities to the full range of the departments’ programs and services. HUD interviewed over 8,000 potential candidates across the United States, Mr. Comas was one of 400 selected to participate as a fellow. He is responsible for specific program areas and cross-discipline roles representing HUD at all public events, educating customer groups and general public on HUD Programs and serve as the initial point of contact with all elected officials and Congressional staff.

Mr. Comas joined HUD after working for the East Harlem Council for Community Improvement (EHCCI) as both Youth Program Coordinator and Project Development Coordinator for Hellgate Management Corporation, a subsidiary of EHCCI. In his former role, Henry coordinated 4 NYC-Department of Youth Services and Housing Authority youth programs specializing in the prevention of juvenile delinquency (City Sports, City Initiatives RFP II, Career Readiness Entrepreneurial Workshop and the Beacon Initiative). As Project Development Coordinator, he was responsible for the development and implementation of housing and economic development programs designed to preserve and upgrade neighborhood-housing stock.. More specifically, Mr. Comas hired all program directors, assign work schedule, supervision of scope of work duties and staff performance evaluations under both titles.

Mr. Comas spent many years with the NYC- Department of Housing Preservation and Development. From January 1986 to June 1991, he was the acting Associate Real Estate Property Manager. Here he supervised five Real Property Managers; eight clerical and ten maintenance staffs in day-to-day operation and management of an excess of 1,000 residential and commercial city owned properties.

Apart from his diverse and vigorous employment interest, he is also an active volunteer in the community. Some past experiences include participation with the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Taskforce, which provided guidance and public recommendations in the submission of the EMZ application to HUD. Also he has participated on the La Marqueta Task Force and the Pathmark Supermarket Project, which ensured community input in the redevelopment efforts of The New York City Economic Development Corporation for La Marqueta and the 125th Street Corridor. He has been a member of Community Board #11 since 1990

Mr. Comas received his BA in Urban Planning from the State University of Buffalo in 1984 and in 1999 participated in the Executive Education Program at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He is a certified Registered Apartment Manager (RAM) and Certified Property Manager (CPM)

Webmaster Note: As you can see, East Harlem has been home to many well educated and experienced people. We are not lacking for the best. And Mr. Comas, Henry is among that group. East Harlem Online eagerly awaits Mr. Comas’ return to our community after his fellowship is complete.