Burney Johnson, currently an executive manager in the department, becomes the director of planning activities. Local developer Henry Hagood was named to direct the remaining divisions -- development, financial and resources management, housing services,neighborhood development and real estate. Hagood served as director of the former community economic development department under the late Mayor Coleman A. Young.

"We intend to elevate the "P" (planning) along with the "D" (development) as we proceed with developing our city," Watkins says. "A master plan exists for every area of our city and we're presently updating it to include input from our 10 core neighborhood clusters. Equipped with our master plan and community input, the city can now be both responsive and proactive as we seek and consider future developments for our city."

The economic development team includes Hagood and Johnson, as well as Sarah Lile, director of environmental affairs; John Nelson, director of the Detroit Housing Commission (DHC); Regenia Simmons, director of the human rights department; and Mary Grace Wilbert Barnes, business attraction consultant. George Jackson, president of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) and Kate Beebe, president of the Greater Downtown Partnership (GDP) also were named to the team.