Mayor Brandon M. Scott is shaking things up in Baltimore with strategic new appointments aimed at bolstering the city's approach to housing and planning. On Thursday, the Mayor announced his picks for key positions: Timothy Keane for Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Renata "Ren" Southard as Planning Director, and Alice Kennedy stepping in as Executive Director of Community Affairs and Engagement in the Mayor's Office, starting March 2. Keane's and Southard's nominations concluded an exhaustive six-month search that spanned both local and national candidates, signaling a major move for the city's urban development strategy.
"Baltimore is becoming a pioneer in housing and community development, literally breaking new ground in our work to overcome a challenge that has plagued our city for generations: the vacants crisis," Mayor Scott said. In a statement obtained by Baltimore City's official website, the Mayor emphasized the transformative work that's expected, "As we accelerate that work and continue looking for innovative ways to drive Baltimore's renaissance forward, I am grateful to have such dedicated housing, community development, and planning experts leading the way."
Keane and Southard aren't newcomers to civic service in Baltimore, each serving in top roles within the local government. Keane, the current Planning Director since 2025, and Southard, active in various DOP and DHCD roles since 2018, will be tasked with assessing and reorganizing their agencies, possibly merging them to optimize resources. The goal is to streamline and improve coordination across permitting, planning, design, and community development. The Mayor has tasked them with a six-month comprehensive study to identify inefficiencies and potential solutions.
Kennedy, who's guided the DHCD since 2020 and announced her planned departure last September, leaves a lasting mark on the city's housing policy landscape. According to Baltimore City's press release, her efforts have culminated in the lowest number of vacancies in Baltimore in over two decades, alongside introducing innovative initiatives like the 2021 Framework for Community Development. Kennedy expressed her pride in the work completed, "Serving as Commissioner of Housing and Community Development has been one of the greatest honors of my public service career," and showed enthusiasm for her new role focused on connecting with the community.
With this strategic realignment, Baltimore is positioning itself for future growth and sustainability, with a city government fully capable of transcending past issues and pushing towards a more dynamic and thriving future. Keane, ready to implement his extensive experience in planning and development, emphasized the commitment to making Baltimore's agencies among the most effective in the U.S. As Southard prepares to catalyze change within the city's diversified neighborhoods, and Kennedy takes on the task of fostering deeper community relations, the Mayor's office looks toward a holistic, streamlined, and responsive approach to addressing the city's development challenges.
