Baltimore Mayor Announces Key Appointments to Revitalize Housing and Planning

New leadership for Baltimore's housing and planning departments aims to address city's development challenges.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott has announced strategic new appointments to key positions in the city's housing and planning departments. Timothy Keane will serve as the new Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Renata "Ren" Southard as the new Planning Director, and Alice Kennedy will take on the role of Executive Director of Community Affairs and Engagement in the Mayor's Office.

Why it matters

The appointments signal a major shift in Baltimore's urban development strategy, as the city looks to address long-standing challenges like the "vacants crisis" and streamline coordination across permitting, planning, design, and community development.

The details

Keane and Southard are not new to civic service in Baltimore, having served in top roles within the local government. They will be tasked with assessing and reorganizing their agencies, potentially merging them to optimize resources. The goal is to improve efficiency and coordination across key functions. Meanwhile, Kennedy, who has guided the DHCD since 2020, will now focus on fostering deeper community relations in her new role.

  • The new appointments will take effect on March 2, 2026.
  • Keane and Southard's nominations concluded a six-month search that spanned local and national candidates.

The players

Brandon M. Scott

The Mayor of Baltimore who announced the key appointments.

Timothy Keane

The new Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

Renata "Ren" Southard

The new Planning Director for the city of Baltimore.

Alice Kennedy

The new Executive Director of Community Affairs and Engagement in the Mayor's Office, previously served as Commissioner of Housing and Community Development.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Baltimore is becoming a pioneer in housing and community development, literally breaking new ground in our work to overcome a challenge that has plagued our city for generations: the vacants crisis.”

— Brandon M. Scott, Mayor of Baltimore (Baltimore City's official website)

“Serving as Commissioner of Housing and Community Development has been one of the greatest honors of my public service career.”

— Alice Kennedy, Former Commissioner of Housing and Community Development (Baltimore City's press release)

What’s next

Keane and Southard have been tasked with a six-month comprehensive study to identify inefficiencies and potential solutions for merging and optimizing the housing and planning departments.

The takeaway

With these strategic appointments, Baltimore is positioning itself for future growth and sustainability, aiming to address long-standing development challenges through a more holistic, streamlined, and responsive approach to urban planning and community engagement.