Susan Powers

Biography: Susan Powers Executive Director Denver Urban Renewal Authority Susan Powers is executive director of the Denver Urban Renewal Authority,a full-service redevelopment agency engaged in neighborhood and downtown revitalization, economic development, home ownership and housing rehabilitation throughout the City and County of Denver. Since her appointment to the position in August 1987, she has directed the agency's involvement in some of Denver's most significant redevelopment efforts, including renovation of the historic Denver Dry Building, the development of a 1,230-room convention headquarters hotel and the 350,000 sq.ft.-Denver Pavilions entertainment/retail center in Downtown. Under Powers' leadership, DURA acts as a partner and/or investor in a variety of city-wide efforts to foster sound growth and development in Denver. In addition to its redevelopment role, DURA helps revitalize Denver's older neighborhoods by administering housing rehabilitation programs for low-income Denver homeowners. Powers came to DURA from the City of Englewood, where she served for seven years as assistant city manager and executive director of the Urban Renewal Authority. Prior to moving to Colorado in 1980, Powers was the community development director for the City of Reno, Nevada. She is a member of the Urban Land Institute and the Unveristy of Colorado Real Estate Council. She is past president of the Colorado Community Revitalization Association, and a former national board member of the American Planning Association.