Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced his intention to nominate Timothy Keane as Commissioner of Baltimore City’s Department of Housing and
Community Development, Renata “Ren” Southard as Planning Director, and Alice Kennedy as Executive Director of Community Affairs and Engagement in the Mayor’s Office, effective March 2, 2026.
“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,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “Alongside our partners at the State and in our communities, we’ve positioned ourselves to be a national leader in this space, thanks in large part to the work of DHCD under Commissioner Kennedy’s leadership. As we accelerate that work and continue looking for innovative ways to drive Baltimore’s renaissance forward, I am grateful to have such dedicated housing, community development, and planning experts leading the way. Tim, Ren, and Alice have proven themselves to be creative and passionate public servants, who always keep the needs of our residents at the center of their work. I am beyond excited for them to continue bringing their experience and wisdom to this next chapter for housing and development in our city.”
The appointments come at a pivotal moment for Baltimore’s housing and vacancy reduction efforts, and signal a potential structural shift in how the City approaches planning, permitting, and community development.
In their new roles as Acting Commissioner and Acting Planning Director, Mayor Scott has directed Keane and Southard to conduct an extensive examination of the structure of the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the Department of Planning (DOP), to make recommendations about potential strategic changes that could maximize the City’s resources during the next phases of Baltimore’s major housing and development initiatives – including an assessment of a potential merger of the two agencies.
The study will focus on:
- Permitting and approvals
- Land use and zoning
- Urban design and planning
- Community development operations
The goal? Reduce silos, streamline processes, and better align resources as Baltimore continues implementing major housing initiatives, including its vacancy reduction strategy.
Kennedy’s leadership transition comes as Baltimore advances its multi-year effort to reduce vacant properties and reinvest in neighborhoods. Under Kennedy’s leadership, DHCD helped operationalize key initiatives including Reframe Baltimore and the City’s vacancy reduction strategy, which contributed to the lowest number of vacants in more than two decades. As she transitions to the Mayor’s Office, Kennedy will focus on expanding community engagement, specifically, strengthening direct communication with residents and ensuring neighborhood voices remain central to housing and development decisions.
The nominations of Keane and Southard are subject to City Council confirmation. To learn more about these appointments see the full release.
