Chicago Mayor Taps Real Estate Vet As Planning And Development Head

Mayor Brandon Johnson has selected Ciere Boatright, CRG’s vice president of real estate and community development, to lead the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, replacing Maurice Cox, who stepped down in August after four years on the job. 

Pending city council approval, the CRE executive will assume the position on Nov. 20 and will work with the mayor to implement his economic development agenda, promoting inclusive, equitable growth throughout the city’s neighborhoods, according to a city press release. 

Johnson said in the release that Boatright’s unique understanding of economic development, commercial real estate, affordable housing, job creation and neighborhood engagement will help ensure an equitable city for all residents. 

“Ciere Boatright is a tremendously talented and respected executive with a proven track record of managing public and private developments across the City and getting deals done,” Johnson said in the press release. 

In her work at CRG, Boatright leads the planning and development of high-impact projects, including negotiating terms of agreements with government entities and securing land entitlements and public and private financing. At CRG, Boatright launched Pillar, an initiative to provide support, mentoring and technical assistance to up-and-coming commercial developers of color.   

Boatright, a native Chicagoan, spent eight years with Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives prior to joining CRG in 2021. In that role, she drove multimillion-dollar projects throughout the city, creating more than 1,600 jobs and participating in working  groups to increase the supply of for-sale affordable housing in Chicago’s neighborhoods, per the city’s press release.

The mayor’s selection is subject to city council approval. 

If confirmed, Boatright would become the second Black woman to lead the city’s Planning Department, per WTTW. The first was Valerie Jarrett, who led the department between 1991 and 1995 before later serving as a senior adviser to President Barack Obama.

“I am honored to join Mayor Johnson and the incredible team at DPD to work with developers, business and community leaders, and residents to create a more equitable, vibrant and inclusive future throughout all Chicago neighborhoods,” Boatright said in the press release. 

In a correlated move, DPD Zoning Administrator Patrick Murphey, who had been the department’s acting commissioner, has been promoted to the department’s first deputy.