Norwalk Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Timothy Sheehan has resigned, effective June 30, to become chief development officer of his native city, Springfield, Massachusetts. As a result, Norwalk is planning to reassess the agency”™s role, with the possibility that some of its responsibilities could be moved back to the city itself.
Director of Community Development Planning Tami Strauss has been named acting executive director, as the agency begins a search for Sheehan”™s permanent replacement.
During Sheehan”™s nearly 17 years at the agency, Chairman Felix Serrano said, “Norwalk”™s urban environment witnessed significant new growth totaling over 5.5 million square feet, with an estimated value of nearly $700 million inclusive of the SoNo Collection mall scheduled to open this fall. It was a period of transformative change and Tim had a direct role in over 40 development projects since 2002 that have either been built, are currently in construction or in the process of being approved.”
Sheehan worked in the office of then-Springfield Mayor Mary Hurley and the city”™s Community Development Department from 1989 to 1993. He served as director of the Community Development Action Grant, under the Executive Office of Communities and Development in Boston, from 1994 to 1996, administering a $30 million capital account to leverage public infrastructure to advance private real estate investments.
