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The Memphis and Shelby County Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board has announced that Andrew Z. Murray, AICP has been selected as the new President of the organization. Experienced in community and economic development, Murray will succeed Rosalyn Willis and assume responsibilities on July 1, 2022. “Andrew has been a critical member of the CRA team since 2018. He has been vital in establishing and sustaining partnerships and leading the organization’s planning and community development efforts.” stated McKinley Martin, the CRA Board Chairman, “I know in this new role he will continue to seek innovative ways to ensure that every neighborhood in the City of Memphis and Shelby County benefits from reinvestment by the CRA and its partners.”
In his previous role with the CRA, Murray served as the Director of Planning and Community Development and was actively engaged in several large-scale initiatives including the oversight and establishment of two major tax increment financing (TIF) districts. The Uptown TIF, a $95 million commitment for the neighborhoods surrounding St. Jude, the Pinch, and the Memphis Medical District and the Binghampton TIF, a $26 million commitment for the Binghampton Neighborhood of central Memphis.
Murray also oversaw the development of the Uptown Community Plan, including the public engagement process, and adoption. In addition to overseeing tax incentive programming and community engagement, Murray also managed all the property acquisition for the CRA acquiring over 250 properties for restoration and reuse within the tax districts and many administrative functions. “CRA plays such an integral part in our strategy for neighborhood revitalization, and I would like to thank Ms. Willis for her leadership of the organization these past few years,” City of Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said. “I’m happy for Andrew and excited about the vision and energy he will bring to his new role. We still have much work to do, and I know Andrew will be a great partner as we move forward.”
“The Community Redevelopment Agency is an important partner in community-led investments in infrastructure, blight removal, and neighborhood improvement.” Shared Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris. “We look forward to working with Mr. Murray to leverage available resources and make meaningful investments in our community.” Prior to his work in Memphis, Murray served as the Senior Project Manager for PGAV Planners in St. Louis, Missouri and as an Urban Planner for Husch Blackwell LLP in Clayton Missouri. He holds a MA in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a BA in International Business, International Studies and Spanish from Westminster College.
Murray stated, ”I am excited to lead the team Ms. Willis has built over the past four years as we continue to implement the community’s plans to fix blight and provide affordable housing in the neighborhoods we serve. Our goal remains the reinvestment in neighborhoods long neglected to create generational wealth for their residents.”
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