Change at the top
Pittsburgh URA executive director set to step down Dec. 30
Three years after arriving in Pittsburgh, Greg Flisram is leaving his job as executive director of the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority.
Mr. Flisram is resigning the top post at the end of December. His last day on the job will be Dec. 30, according to URA spokeswoman Tanika Harris.
“This is something he’s been thinking about for the last few months and has decided to return to the private sector,” she said in an email.
Mr. Flisram started as the URA’s executive director in January 2020 after serving as interim president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Mo.
He confirmed in a text Tuesday that he was leaving the URA.
“Basically, after 10 years in [the] public sector, I’m really missing the creative outlet and flexibility of consulting work and having greater control over the types of projects I work on and where,” he said, adding he also wanted “more location flexibility.”
“It’s mostly a latter-career personal lifestyle choice type of thing than anything.”
Mr. Flisram was chosen by former Mayor Bill Peduto in fall 2019 to lead the URA after a monthslong nationwide search by a five-member committee that screened 143 candidates.
In taking the job with the city’s powerful economic development arm, he said he wanted to continue the momentum that made Pittsburgh the “envy of post-industrial economies throughout the world” but in a way that was more inclusive.
His priorities included neighborhood revitalization and housing, both of which have been a focus during his time at the URA. They also aligned with Mr. Peduto’s vision.
One of his biggest tasks over the last few years has been trying to increase the stock of affordable housing throughout the city, an effort that has grown to be even more of a priority under Mayor Ed Gainey, who succeeded Mr. Peduto last January.
In that vein, the URA board recently approved a program to convert older Downtown office buildings to affordable housing. The initiative is backed by $9 million in funding, including $2.1 million in federal American Rescue Plan dollars provided to the city.
Before taking the job as interim president and CEO of the Economic Development Corp. of Kansas City, Mr. Flisram served as development director of Green Bay, Wis.
In that capacity, he worked with the Green Bay Packers football team on developing a sports and entertainment-focused “Titletown District” adjacent to Lambeau Field.
Mr. Flisram isn’t the only one who is leaving the URA. Gigi Saladna, who served as senior communications manager, no longer is with the authority.
She declined comment Tuesday. Ms. Harris also had no comment, saying the URA does not discuss personnel matters.
In April, Diamonte Walker, who was the URA’s deputy executive director, stepped down to become the CEO of The Pittsburgh Scholar House, which is designed to end the cycle of poverty by promoting post-secondary education and comprehensive support services for single parents and their children.