"The Housing Commissioner had 30 days to answer," he said.

A few minutes later, they were more attentive when a landlord spoke, but he was also a housing commissioner.

The Housing Commissioner also said that leaders of the community board had been briefed on the plan last week.

On Friday, more than four months after his election, the Mayor finally selected a housing commissioner.

Before that, she had been New York City's housing commissioner.

Shaun Donovan, the city's housing commissioner, said there was little development potential at the complex without a lengthy public review.

The city's housing commissioner said that such a refusal is against the law, and raised concerns about the Starrett City deal.

Mr. Donovan, the city's housing commissioner, said mixed-income communities are the right model for the future.

"Left unprotected, these buildings deteriorate right before our eyes," the Housing Commissioner said.

"We were very concerned," said Shaun Donovan, the city's housing commissioner.