City’s Community Development Manager Retires After 29 Years of Service

Austin, Texas (Jan. 24, 2005)– After 29 years of public service, Gregory L. Smith, Community Development Manager with the City’s Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department will retire at the end of this month.

Smith began working for the City of Austin in 1975 and has spent the last 17 years with the City’s Housing Department. During his time with the City, Smith developed and implemented the Neighborhood Commercial Management Program and the Small Business Program to stimulate economic growth in Austin. He also negotiated over 25 million dollars in federal loans to produce facilities like the Millennium Youth and Entertainment Center and the new Austin Resource Center for the Homeless.

Most recently, Smith’s efforts have focused on the revitalization of east 11th and 12th Streets. The evidence of the revitalization can be seen through develop-ments like the new Street-Jones and Snell buildings, the historical renovation of the Haehnel Grocery Store which is now occupied by Balcones Recycling and the Ebenezer Office Building.

"I was born in Austin and raised in east Austin, so it has been one of the most rewarding experiences to play an integral role in the revitalization of an area I grew up in," said Smith.

Smith will be honored with a Distinguished Service Award presented by the City Council on Thursday, January 27 at the Austin City Hall (301 W. Second St.) beginning at 5:30 p.m. The ceremony is open to the public.

The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Please call 974-3100 (voice) or 974-3102 (TDD) for assistance. This project is made possible by funding from HUD through the City of Austin.

CONTACT: Brenda de la Garza, 974-3175 (voice)