New York native Maurice Cox is stepping down from his role this fall as Detroit's planning director. He's expected to take on a role as the top planning executive for the City of Chicago, a city official confirmed. — detroitnews.com
After four years at the helm of Detroit's planning department, Maurice Cox is headed to Chicago to serve as the city's top planning executive under the Windy City's new mayor, Lori Lightfoot.
A Brooklyn native, Cox is an architectural designer, educator, and former mayor of Charlottesville, Virginia. Prior to arriving in Detroit, Cox directed the Tulane University City Center, a community outreach and design-build institute housed within the Tulane School of Architecture. Prior to that role, Cox served as the design director for the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, D.C.
Cox told The Detroit News, "I feel strongly that Detroit's neighborhoods are receiving the attention that they deserve and people feel strongly that they have a road map for the quality of life for neighborhoods, whether it's streets, parks or greenways. Cox added that those efforts are "driven by the residents who stayed."
Really not surprising. Planning people tend to move around a lot. Being a much larger city, Chicago is a natural next step in Cox's trajectory.
All 4 Comments
Big news here. I'm curious to see what the resulting impact will be on both cites.
Oh man! Happy for Chicago but sad for Detroit, though as Mr. Cox says he's helped bolster up the commitment to Detroit that already existed among people who stayed there.
so Detroit couldn't keep a talented urban designer in the city -- will the city really stick with these plans once the leader is gone? seems nobody sticks around anywhere very long
Really not surprising. Planning people tend to move around a lot. Being a much larger city, Chicago is a natural next step in Cox's trajectory.
True. And sometimes they don't stay long. LA got its first woman planning director about a decade ago. She was smart. She was engaging. She was hopeful. And she was gone within about 3 years.
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.