National Western Center’s chief departing

The longtime director of Denver’s National Western Center project will depart as the $1.1 billion undertaking is primed for the start of its demolition, environmental cleanup and construction phases.

Kelly Leid made the surprise announcement that he has decided to return to Denver homebuilder Oakwood Homes after nine years in public sector jobs. Those include working as operations director at Denver Public Schools before joining Mayor Michael Hancock’s administration in 2011, first overseeing development services and then starting the North Denver Cornerstone Collaborative office, where he took on the National Western redevelopment, in 2013.

Hancock on Wednesday appointed Gretchen Hollrah, Leid’s deputy in the split-off National Western Center office, as the new executive director. She will start after Leid’s last day, Oct. 2. The director’s salary is $155,436.

“(Leid’s) ability to consistently take on significant, complex projects, bringing a broad coalition of public and private interests together, and organize them toward success is truly unique,” Hancock said in a news release. “It is bittersweet to see him go, but his impact through sincere public service will continue as his legacy.”