Former city Comptroller Bill Thompson has stepped down as chairman of the Battery Park City Authority to focus on his mayoral campaign.
Thompson informed Gov. Andrew Cuomo of his decision on Wednesday.
He told The New York Times he felt the agency's transformation was well under way.
Thompson instituted what he called tougher measures on transparency and management at the agency that he took over in 2010. The agency had been accused of lavish perks by employees, claims later substantiated by a state inspector's report.
The Democrat's resignation is effective Friday.
Thompson lost the mayoral race in 2009 by a narrow margin to Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Other Democratic 2013 mayoral contenders include City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.
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