Mark Sissman, deputy housing commissioner in Baltimore during the mayoral administration of William Donald Schaefer, is returning to city government after a 14-year hiatus.

City officials said yesterday that Sissman will be an economic development consultant to the Baltimore Development Corp., working on a six-month contract to help identify sources of funds to carry out the city's $350 million plan to redevelop the west side of downtown and other large-scale projects.

BDC President M. Jay Brodie said the development corporation has been negotiating to hire Sissman from Jan. 1 to June 30 and that Sissman would work out of BDC's offices.

"We want to use his financial expertise to help us look at the West Side plan and put together a financial strategy" to stimulate public and private investment, Brodie said. "He knows a great deal and has some excellent contacts."

Sissman worked for the Baltimore housing department from the mid-1970s to 1984, when he left to join the Enterprise Foundation, the nonprofit organization that James and Patty Rouse founded to provide "fit and affordable" housing for low-income residents.

For many years Sissman was president of the Enterprise Social Investment Corp., a subsidiary that secured financing for residential projects using tax credits for low-income housing and other funding sources. He resigned as president of ESIC in June and most recently has been vice chairman for strategic initiatives at Enterprise.

Pub Date: 12/04/98