Holston steps down

The person in charge of overseeing Cincinnati’s community development plans for the past four years has announced her retirement from the city to become director of policy and management for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Deborah Holston, who assumed the role of Assistant City Manager in February 2003, said she will step down in Feburary 2007. She will administer all of HUD’s programs, including multi-family, single family and public housing for the Washington, D.C. area.

As assistant city manager, Holston structured the deal for the Villages of Daybreak, a market-rate mixed-income housing development in Bond Hill. She also was instrumental in the development of “Blue Print for Success,” a youth job training program administered by the Hamilton County Community Action Agency.

City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr., said Holston has served the city well.

“Her leadership has centered on bringing people together around a table to talk through issues facing the city and she has used her extensive knowledge of the housing industry to create new opportunities in this city,” Dohoney said.