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Council approves reorganization to create Department of Development, moving land bank and housing staff
Summary
Council approved legislation renaming the Department of Economic Development to the Department of Development, transferring ~18 staff from Community Development into a new Land Strategy office and adding five general‑fund positions; administration said the change will centralize real estate tools, improve accountability and accelerate project delivery, while councilmembers pressed for operational metrics and protections for neighborhood services.
The committee approved an ordinance to rename the Department of Economic Development as the Department of Development and to transfer the housing development office, land bank office and asset redevelopment office from the Department of Community Development into the new department.
What the ordinance does: The reorganization moves roughly 18 existing federally funded staff positions from Community Development into the new Department of Development, creates a Land Strategy office that merges land bank and asset redevelopment functions, and authorizes five additional general‑fund positions (one immediate deputy director of land strategy and four other positions to be included in the 2026 budget). Administration representatives said the change consolidates acquisition, disposition and project delivery tools in one place, creates a post‑closing and fiscal team, adds a real estate attorney, and pairs neighborhood investment managers with storefront and business incentive programs.
Administration rationale and implementation tools: Officials emphasized the need to streamline many overlapping processes across multiple departments and chiefs, and described investments in project management technology (Salesforce), data and GIS capacity, and an expanded land bank staffing model with a real estate attorney and data/mapping team. They said the land bank will remain accountable to council and that this ordinance does not change land bank policy or disposition oversight.
Council questions and concerns: Several councilmembers supported the reorganization but sought clarity on what remains in Community Development, which bureaus remain, how HUD/CDBG funding is accounted for, which programs stay under CD, and how the new department will measure outcomes. Members emphasized speed and service delivery for small businesses and affordable housing projects and asked for clear performance metrics and quarterly progress reviews.
Outcome: After an extensive hearing and amendments, the ordinance (12‑26‑20‑25 as amended) was approved in committee. Administration said it will provide detailed organizational charts, a list of remaining Community Development bureaus and metrics during implementation and will coordinate with council on the 2026 budget and five new positions.
