Interim Wichita City Manager Ed Flentje on February 13, 2008, announced the establishment of an Office of Urban Development to coordinate city projects involving economic development, downtown redevelopment and neighborhood redevelopment.
The new office will reside in the City Manager’s Office under the direction of longtime Economic Developer Allen Bell, who has worked for the city since 1992. Bell will oversee an office responsible for consolidating staff formerly assigned to economic development, development assistance, and property management.
Urban Development is designed to better coordinate economic development projects and implement redevelopment strategies. It will be charged with developing staffing and technology necessary to improve management and tracking of various development projects.