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Richardson creates new office focused on redeveloping key areas throughout city

Richardson’s new Office of Innovation and Placemaking Initiatives will focus on planning and forging partnerships to renew and reinvigorate high-priority zones throughout the city.

The city of Richardson this week announced the creation of a new Office of Innovation and Placemaking Initiatives.

The office will focus on redeveloping key areas throughout the city and will oversee six reinvestment areas, according to a city press release. The areas were identified in Richardson’s Comprehensive Plan, including high-priority areas such as the West Spring Valley corridor, the Richardson Innovation Quarter and the Richardson CORE District, which includes downtown, Richardson Heights and Lockwood areas.

Richardson’s strategic initiatives manager Doug McDonald will head the newly formed office. He has worked for the city since 2018 and brings nearly 15 years of city planning and strategic management experience to the job.

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Building on the city’s pre-existing efforts, the office will facilitate market studies, enable new zoning entitlements and promote urban design to create quality community public spaces, according to the press release. It will also strive to develop and facilitate cross-sector partnerships with shared business development efforts.

The new office plans to accomplish this by working with entrepreneur-supported organizations, small businesses, educational institutions, private companies, and local, regional and state nonprofits.

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McDonald will focus on furthering the city manager’s office capabilities by overseeing the city’s economic activities with the Richardson Economic Development Partnership, according to the press release. He will also be charged with fostering public and private partnerships and coordinating the development of city policies and ordinances.

In collaboration with The University of Texas at Dallas, McDonald will manage operations and programs at the Richardson Innovations Quarter headquarters when it opens in 2022.

The Office of Innovation and Placemaking Initiatives is currently located at Richardson City Hall but will move into the Innovations Quarter office when it opens.

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