ABOUT
Ascendant connects residents and community partners to build and preserve affordable housing, and to cultivate thriving, resilient neighborhoods.
With a track record of success since our establishment in 1988, Ascendant has transformed 22 vacant and underutilized buildings into much-needed housing, as well as constructed five new buildings, including three exclusively for low-income elders. By revitalizing entire blocks that had suffered from neglect and decay during times of widespread disinvestment, we have played a vital role in the restoration and renewal of our communities.
Today we face new housing challenges across Northern Manhattan and throughout New York City. The rapid surge in market-rate residential and commercial development has fueled speculation, escalated rents, and led to tenant harassment and displacement. Ascendant is committed to confronting these challenges head-on. We are actively engaged in rehabilitating and refinancing our existing buildings to ensure long-term affordability and enhance the quality of life for our residents. Moreover, we are embarking on new and innovative projects that will expand housing opportunities for all members of our community, including two large-scale NYCHA housing retrofit projects that add 2146 units to our pipeline, further demonstrating our commitment to preserving and improving public housing buildings. Learn more about our portfolio and pipeline properties here below.
OUR LEGACY
OUR TEAM
Chris Cirillo
Executive Director +
President
Chris Cirillo became the Executive Director + President of Ascendant Neighborhood Development in July 2012. Since arriving at Ascendant, Chris has expanded the organization’s work to include neighborhood planning, historic preservation, and asset management. He also helped to establish the Northern Manhattan Collaborative and was an early supporter of Landmark East Harlem. Before joining Ascendant, Chris spent 6 ½ years as Vice President for Development at The Richman Group. Chris also held several positions at the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development over ten years, including Director of Large Scale Development and Assistant Commissioner for Neighborhood Planning. Chris is a graduate of Brown University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies. He completed his Master of Science in Historic Preservation at Pratt Institute, and currently teaches in the Real Estate Practice and Historic Preservation programs at Pratt. Chris serves as a member of the Board of Directors of The Friends of La Marqueta.
Matthias Helfen
Director of Operations + Partnerships
Matthias Helfen joined Ascendant in April 2020, progressing to Director of Communications + Partnerships in November 2023, and has taken on an expanded role as acting Director of Operations + Partnerships since October 2024. As a key member of Ascendant’s core management team, his responsibilities include financial coordination, leading fundraising efforts, accounting and audit oversight, managing external partnerships and lender relations, project management support, and producing communications and outreach material such as press briefs, newsletter publications, and digital content, including AND’s website development & management. Matthias received a Master’s with honors in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Colorado in 2018 for his international work with Syrian asylum seekers and generational farmers in Germany and Greece.
Catherine Duncan
Operations + Resident Experience Manager
Catherine Duncan began working for Ascendant in 2007, as a Concierge. She received an A.O.S in Facilities Management Technology and was promoted to Operations & Resident Experience Manager in 2016. Cathy plays a vital role in supporting residents, particularly those in Ascendant’s senior housing properties, by assisting them with lease renewals, recertifications, and navigating property management processes. Her commitment to resident well-being extends to organizing social events, facilitating communication, and providing compassionate support during challenging times, such as resident transitions and end-of-life situations. Cathy’s multilingual skills and deep understanding of resident needs make her an invaluable asset to the Ascendant community.
Victor Filpo
Community Outreach Coordinator
Victor earned a masters in International Affairs at Columbia University in 2025. Upon finishing the ANHD Morgan Stanley Development Fellowship, Victor became Community Outreach Coordinator to further Ascendant’s mission in affordable housing and community empowerment, especially within East Harlem’s diverse communities. Victor’s multilingualism and outreach experience fosters meaningful connections and understanding within the neighborhood.
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Kristen Smith
Vice Chair
Kristen, a business attorney at Holland & Knight, focuses on affordable housing finance, representing lenders and investors in low-income housing tax credit projects.
Patricio Suarez
Pat is a Managing Partner at Grayson Ford LLC, a multi-family office in New York City. He was previously a partner at Anderson Kill, PC, where he worked as a tax attorney.
John Warren
Chair
John is a Founding Partner of Workforce Housing Group, specializing in affordable housing preservation and revitalizing distressed properties. Formerly First Deputy Commissioner at NYC HPD.
Kristina Wiig
Treasurer
Kris is a Sales Coach in B2B Go-To-Market Strategies. She specializes in launching disruptive technologies across diverse industries, bridging gaps in underserved market segments with product innovation and sales expertise.
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