The Downtown Development Authority has brought on local landscape architecture and site planning firm DHM Design to fulfill its executive director duties.<\/p>\n
Specifically, DHM Design President and Managing Principal Laura Kirk, who will remain in that capacity, will also serve as the next DDA executive director.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that one of the things that is really exciting is just all of the projects that have been in the works for a little while that are wrapping up,\u201d Kirk, a Colorado native, said of the Seventh Street Project, the future installation of public restrooms at the southeast corner of Seventh and Colorado Avenue, as well as landscaping at the Sixth Street roundabout.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is a great milestone for the DDA, for the city and all of the other partners that have been involved in those projects,\u201d Kirk said.<\/p>\n
A tax-funded district established in 2001, the DDA\u2019s region includes the area north and south of the Colorado River, east of the Roaring Fork River and west as far as Blake Avenue. A seven-member volunteer citizen board governs the DDA and works closely with City Council on projects within the city\u2019s commercial core.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe DDA board of directors unanimously voted to offer the executive director position to Laura Kirk after an extensive search,\u201d DDA board member Christian Henny said. \u201cWe are confident that her design and development background makes her a great fit as the DDA moves on to other projects and development work here in Glenwood Springs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe board and I look forward to working with City Council on establishing the next priorities for the DDA,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Last year, three months after announcing her retirement from the DDA as its executive director, Leslie Bethel died following a bout with cancer at the age of 61.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew Leslie, and it was very sad, her passing,\u201d Kirk said. \u201cOur goal is to complete Leslie\u2019s visions for Glenwood and then to keep the torch moving forward. \u2026 She was a remarkable person and had a great vision and a remarkable ability to get that vision translated into action. It\u2019s big shoes to fill.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kirk earned a master\u2019s degree from the University of Colorado Denver in landscape architecture and has worked as a landscape architect and planner on projects throughout the state.<\/p>\n
Kirk\u2019s portfolio includes a number of notable works including that of the True Nature Healing Arts garden in Carbondale, as well as landscape design for the Rocky Mountain Innovation Center in downtown Basalt.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am looking forward to getting to know the Glenwood community better, getting to know the City Council, business owners and for people to get to know me,\u201d Kirk said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd to work together to continue to bring vibrancy to the downtown core,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n