Urban Development Director Hind Accepts New Position

Published on March 24, 2025

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird today announced that Urban Development Director Peter Hind has accepted the position of Chester E. Dean Endowed Professional Chair in Architecture and Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Design in Lawrence, Kansas.

“I appreciate Peter’s talent, leadership, and many contributions to the city during his time at the helm of our Urban Development Department,” said Mayor Gaylor Baird. “From expanding access to affordable housing to advancing major redevelopment projects, Peter has helped create a more vibrant and prosperous community.” 

Hind’s last day with the City will be August 1. The administration will begin the search for a new Urban Development Director in the coming months. Hind joined the City in September 2023, succeeding Dan Marvin, who served as Urban Development Director from 2019 until he retired in July 2023. 

“It has been an incredible honor to serve on Mayor Gaylor Baird’s cabinet and in the role of Urban Development Director,” Hind said. “After living in Lincoln for 32 years, I feel privileged to have contributed to meaningful change within the City over the past two years. I will continue to advocate for Lincoln and remain a strong supporter of the talented team at Urban Development, as well as our partners in other City departments, the private sector and the community.”

Before joining the City, Hind was a manager of the Lincoln Architecture Group at Schemmer Associates Inc., an architecture, engineering and construction field services consulting firm. Before joining Schemmer as a senior architect in 2019, Hind was a founding partner of studio951 in Lincoln and Principal of award-winning FOUNDarchitects. He was also a tenured professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The Urban Development Department manages Lincoln’s share of federal Community Development Block Grant funds, serves as the City’s Redevelopment Authority, coordinates acquisition of Right of Way and sales of City property, and manages public parking resources. The department includes three divisions: 

• Economic Opportunity: Facilitates redevelopment efforts and manages public parking resources  
• Livable Neighborhoods: Works to increase safe, affordable housing; help residents become successful first-time homeowners; support neighborhood vitality; and address homelessness issues 
• Administration: Ensures federal requirements are met and assists the other divisions with financial management, data analysis, and information communication 

For more information, visit urban.lincoln.ne.gov.