|
Welcome to About Town, where we take a deeper dive into one neighborhood each week while also highlighting the latest news, developments and back stories from Memphis’ neighborhoods. This week’s focus: Wherever there’s blight.
The Blight Authority of Memphis, Inc. announced Tuesday, Feb. 22, that its executive director, Leslie Smith, stepped down from her role to pursue other opportunities.
For the time being, Steve Lockwood, who retired as director of the Frayser Community Development Corp. in 2020, will be taking over as interim executive director for BAM.
“So, an odd thing happened on the way to retirement,” Lockwood posted on his personal Facebook page, hours after the official announcement. “I was offered a job, and to my surprise, I accepted. I am, for a brief time, the Interim Executive Director of the Blight Authority of Memphis (BAM). BAM was set up to assemble land in disinvested neighborhoods, and put them back into productive use. I didn’t want this potentially very impactful agency to languish without an ED, so here I am. Wish us well.”
BAM is a public-benefit nonprofit corporation that was established by the City of Memphis under Tennessee’s Local Land Bank Program to operate a land bank, which serves as a tool to remediate blight while supporting economic revitalization in underserved communities. The goal is to return vacant, abandoned and tax-delinquent properties throughout the city to better use.
During his 18-year tenure with the Frayser CDC, Lockwood led efforts to purchase blighted homes and renovate them for resale. Under his leadership, the organization also provided housing counseling and hosted workshops regarding homebuyer education, money and credit, and post-purchase.
In his temporary role at BAM, Lockwood will use his expertise to oversee property inventory, programs, grant funding and partnerships. He will serve in that role until June 30, 2022, the end of the fiscal year. Meanwhile, BAM’s board of directors will continue to search for a permanent replacement, selecting “the best candidate based on qualifications, merit and business need.”
It is unclear what Smith’s next move is; she did not respond immediately to comment.
Before becoming director of BAM in September 2019, Smith served as the advocacy and engagement program manager for BLDG Memphis and as business services coordinator for the City of Memphis Business Diversity & Compliance office.
More from About Town:
 “As a young girl coming to Whitehaven, it was just a big deal,” said Whitehaven resident Pearl Walker, who was photographed at David Carnes Park. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
Whitehaven is much more than Graceland, FedEx and the airport, with its rich history, independently owned businesses and a deep sense of pride – or “neighborhoodism” as one leader calls it.
 Devin Steel spent more than 20 years as a pivotal figure in Memphis’ urban radio market. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian file)
Adrian Granderson, Joe Johnson and Robert Higgins, all originally from Memphis, opened WKND Hang Suite in the South Main Historic District in 2018.
The nonprofit groups have received grants totaling $600,000 as part of a multi-year pledge by Nike Inc.
..... |
