Barbour will assume the role of CEO effective Feb. 20
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 8, 2025
AUSTIN, Texas—The Downtown Austin Alliance, the nonprofit organization that creates, preserves, and enhances the vibe, vitality, and value of downtown Austin, today announced Davon Barbour as the organization’s new CEO, effective Feb. 20.
Barbour has served as President and CEO of the Downtown Development District of the City of New Orleans since December 2021. He brings extensive experience revitalizing urban communities nationwide, having worked in the private, public and nonprofit sectors in cities including Baltimore, Miami, Orlando and Los Angeles.
“I am thrilled to plant roots and call the City of Austin my home, a community well regarded for its culture of inclusiveness, innovation and creativity.” Barbour, said. “The next few years represent a significant amount of investment from both the public and private sectors. Harnessing this momentum to benefit all Austinites, while carefully managing growth is paramount.”
As CEO, Barbour will address opportunities, such as transformative mobility and infrastructure projects, and challenges, including affordability, office vacancy rates and safety concerns. He will work closely with government officials, property owners, developers, community and business leaders, residents and other downtown stakeholders to enhance the vibe and vitality of downtown Austin. Additionally, he will serve as the primary advocate for the stewardship and promotion of downtown and the interests of the Downtown Alliance’s members and stakeholders.
“We are thrilled to welcome Davon Barbour as the next CEO of the Downtown Austin Alliance,” S.W. “Whitney” Knight, Downtown Austin Alliance Board Chair, said. “Davon’s track record of revitalizing urban communities and his deep understanding of economic development make him uniquely qualified to lead the Downtown Alliance. With his leadership, we are confident in the continued growth, vibrancy and success of downtown Austin for all who live, work and visit our city.”
The search process, led by the executive search consulting firm that specializes in finding C-suite talent in the community and economic development industry, HRS, Inc., began in May and included more than 75 community and organizational stakeholder interviews. Current President and CEO Dewitt “De” Peart will retire in the first quarter of 2025 after a decade of leadership at the Downtown Austin Alliance.
During Barbour’s tenure, the Downtown Development District collaborated with the City of New Orleans and the New Orleans Community Support Foundation to create the BioDistrict Strategic Plan, which earned City Council approval and helped expand the city’s biosciences sector. Barbour also enhanced the organization’s dedication to fostering economic equity by championing initiatives such as Black Tech Week, Black Real Estate Week, and the Urban Land Institute’s REDI program, aimed at advancing diversity in the commercial real estate industry.
In a previous role as senior vice president of Economic Development for the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, he led the organization to win an Award of Excellence in Economic Development for its Tech Connect commercial attraction program from the International Downtown Association. He also served as project manager for a $2 billion redevelopment project in Baltimore, MD, including the Life Sciences + Technology Park at Johns Hopkins, mixed-income housing and local job creation.
Before that, he was VP of Advocacy & Economic Development for The Hollywood Partnership, managing the Hollywood Entertainment District. He also led the Community & Economic Development Division of the Los Angeles County Development Authority, overseeing redevelopment, loans and the nation’s largest urban county CDBG program, administering over $150M in COVID-19 recovery initiatives.
Barbour served as Chair for an Urban Land Institute Technical Advisory Panel in support of Sankofa CDC. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the International Downtown Association and has been extensively involved in ICSC, the world’s largest retail real estate trade organization. At ICSC, he serves on its Board of Trustees and has held roles as Western Division P3 Public Chair, Eastern Division P3 Public Sector Chair and faculty member of its University of Shopping Centers. He is also a lover of the arts and a former professional West African dancer and instructor.
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“Serving as CEO of the Downtown Austin Alliance for the past decade has truly been one of the most fulfilling and transformative experiences of my career,” Dewitt “De” Peart, said. “The opportunity to work alongside such a passionate and visionary team, as well as devoted community partners, to shape downtown Austin into a vibrant, thriving destination has been an extraordinary privilege. I am deeply proud of what we have achieved together and equally confident that Davon’s leadership will build on our collective success. I look forward to witnessing the exciting new chapter he will lead, driving forward the progress and promise of this great city.”