Detroit Land Bank Authority Gets New Leader
Land Bank Update
December 17, 2015
The Detroit Land Bank Authority Board has named Carrie Lewand-Monroe as executive director of the agency. A previous director of the Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority under Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Lewand-Monroe has been serving as acting executive director of the Detroit Land Bank Authority since Oct. 12 when she took over after the prior director, Kevin Simowski, was dismissed.
An attorney, Lewand-Monroe has also served as previously served as director of policy at Detroit Future City.
Lewand-Monroe joined the DLBA in February 2014 and has held the positions of senior adviser and deputy director for acquisitions and land reuse and as principal director of disposition. In those roles, she was responsible for the oversight of the city’s Hardest Hit Fund demolition program.
She also has overseen the DLBA side lot program, which has sold more than 2,700 side lots to Detroit residents. She also helped to create the buildingdetroit.org auction site, which has led to more than 500 homes being purchased across the city.
“Carrie Lewand-Monroe has shown exceptional leadership since being named acting director of the Detroit Land Bank,” said Detroit Land Bank Authority Board Chair Erica Ward Gerson. “Her stewardship of the Hardest Hit Fund demolition program has been exemplary. Carrie was part of the team that brought the DLBA this far, and will provide great leadership and stability for years to come.”
She takes over as the city’s demolition program has been struggling with rising costs and reports that major demolition companies received favored treatment in the awarding of demolition contracts.
Source: Detroit Free Press
