To quickly but temporarily fill the role that leads Denver’s Department of Community Planning and Development, Mayor Mike Johnston today named Brad Buchanan, the CEO of the National Western Center Authority, as the interim director.
“We are thrilled Brad is willing to return to lead CPD in an interim capacity,” Johnston said in a press release Tuesday. “Having served as Executive Director from 2014 to 2018, Brad knows the agency and the team extremely well. His deep expertise in Denver’s permitting and development processes gives me full confidence in his ability to guide CPD forward as we continue overhauling our permitting processes and delivering services to our community.”
Buchanan will begin his dual roles on June 10. The National Western Center Authority is a nonprofit that programs, operates and maintains the National Western Complex. The authority has a 13-person board of directors.
The authority was approved on Monday by the Denver City Council on a 9-4 vote to receive up to $812 million to further develop the National Western Center, which will include a new equestrian center, hotel, community center and other projects in an effort to enhance the experience of the site that hosts the annual National Western Stock Show.
The city council approved spending $23.3 million through bond funding over the next 35 years with an assumed interest rate of 4.92%.
“I’ve got a fantastic team in both places,” Buchanan told Times Media Group. “I know the teams at the National Western Center and Community Planning and Development. I’m working with some amazing individuals, and I’ve had some conversations with the board and my team about this possibility, and everyone was very supportive. Every manager manages scope and projects beyond their own capacity. That’s what management is all about. I’m comfortable with managing a lot of spinning plates, and that’s what I’ll do here.”
In leading both the authority and the city department in charge of approving the developments his current organization is seeking, Buchanan said there will be times when he’ll have to step back to avoid conflicts of interest.
“I’ve thought about that, I think that there’s really only one area of protectional conflicts, and that’s if we’re applying for a building permit while I’m the executive director,” he said. “I’d been in this position for almost five years previously, but the executive director is not involved the day-to-day of the review process, and I’ll keep my distance from that. I have a high bar for our integrity and our team’s integrity and I know what lines not to cross.”
A comprehensive search for the permanent executive director of the department will be conducted, Johnston’s office stated. Buchanan said he expects the search to last about six months.
Buchanan said he wants to continue to improve approval times for building permit applications — something Johnston has highlighted as a priority in his administration — as well as improve the “customer experience” of the process. He said he also plans to catch up with everything the department is handling at this time and help the mayor with selecting a new, permanent director.
Part of Monday’s council decision included the efforts of the Globeville, Elyria and Swansea Community Investment Fund, a program established by the authority, to direct money toward a revolving loan fund for the purchase of collectively owned land, homes and cooperative businesses in the GES neighborhoods.
The fund seeks $16 million from the allocated money to the authority in order to accomplish those goals.
“Last night’s vote just laid out the work that needs to be done with the (community investment fund),” Buchanan said. “We all heard loud and clear that there are significant needs in GES, and that’s what we have to do every day, to partner with them and increase that revenue stream and apply those funds to address neighborhood priorities and needs.”
Shannon Hoffman, the project manager for the community investment fund, told Times Media Group that the organization is looking forward to working with Buchanan on the future phases of the National Western Center.
“We know he has a lot of knowledge from his previous experience in CPD,” Hoffman said.
The Community Planning and Development executive director was Manish Kumar until May 31 when he announced his departure after 13 months at the position. Kumar’s last day is Friday, June 6.
Johnston announced in April, by executive order, the creation of the new Denver Permitting Office to “overhaul Denver’s permitting and development approval processes, making building in the city easier by streamlining permit review timelines and coordination across city departments,” according to the announcement.
This is a developing story. Times Media Group will provides updates when more information becomes available.