Lenart, Hall Take New Jobs in Housing

As Jennifer L. Hall prepares to start her new position as executive director of the Ann Arbor housing commission, Brett Lenart has been named to replace her as housing and infrastructure manager at the joint Washtenaw County/city of Ann Arbor office of community development. Hall sent an email on Sunday night to announce the transition.

Hall had been offered the housing commission job at the commission board’s Oct. 19, 2011 meeting. The commission oversees the city of Ann Arbor’s public housing units, as well as the Section 8 program for Washtenaw, Monroe, and western Wayne counties. Hall’s last day with the office of community & economic development is Nov. 23.

Among his various responsibilities at the county, Lenart has managed the brownfield redevelopment program, working in the office of economic development & energy. That department is one of three that are part of a merger approved by the county board of commissioners in August. The merger – which includes the office of community development, and the employment training and community services (ETCS) department – is already underway, but will officially take place at the beginning of 2012. The new office of community & economic development will be led by Mary Jo Callan, current director of the office of community development. The office will have responsibility for a broad range of initiatives, including low-income housing, redevelopment efforts, job training and other economic development programs.