Dallas Director of Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization David Noguera is off to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Miami, and city officials say he’s leaving the Lone Star State better than he found it.
Noguera was among the first hires City Manager T.C. Broadnax’s staff made after the city manager’s arrival in 2017.
“David landed very fast and had a lot of things to do,” Broadnax said. “We had a lot of issues and challenges in our housing department. He inherited and worked through the resolution of almost $50 million in audit findings, and he did that without any financial penalties coming back on the city.”
Noguera said in an email to daltxrealestate.com on Friday that he fondly recalls his first day on the job at Dallas City Hall.
“As I prepare to conclude my final day of work, I reflect on my first day of work. I remember being shepherded from one meeting to the next, no time for lunch, had to get to the next meeting,” he said. “At one point a council member introduced me to a constituent who was being evicted from her home in 72 hours. I was asked, ‘What can you do to help her?’ My response at the time was, ‘I don’t even know where the restroom is, but let me work on it.’ That encounter was reflective of the urgency needed to address housing challenges for our neediest residents.”
A Legacy of Dallas Housing Policy Reform
Noguera spearheaded the creation of Dallas Housing Policy 2033 and oversaw the city’s first Public Facility Corporation. He has guided more than 19,000 housing units into the city.
With each policy, program, or project considered, Noguera said he felt a duty to “get it right and get it done in response to the urgency of Dallas housing needs.”
“I always knew this would not be a forever job because of the level of attention and dedication that it takes to serve,” he said during a Sept. 20 City Council meeting. “I viewed this job as my special child, so when I would talk to my kids about why I’m not going to make it to dinner or why I’m missing a special event or two, it’s because I’m serving my special child. I thank you all for that opportunity … I feel privileged to know that I am leaving the department in a better position than I received it.”
The thing that I appreciate about David is, with everything he inherited, he’s always even-keeled. The way you can tell if something is wrong, if you crack a joke and you listen to the pitch of his laugh, that’s how you can tell if he’s stressed or not. His pitch will be just a little bit higher.
DISTRICT 3 COUNCILMAN ZARIN GRACEY
Noguera’s departure comes at the same time as Director of Planning and Urban Design Julia Ryan announced she was resigning to accept a job as a transportation planner in Arkansas.
“You will be missed,” Broadnax said to the directors during Wednesday’s council meeting. “I appreciate your efforts. Your shoes will be hard to fill. Don’t be strangers, but enjoy your families and, I am sure, the tranquility you will have now that you are no longer a member of this executive team.”
Cynthia Rogers-Ellickson has been appointed to serve as interim director of Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization, and Darwin Wade was named an assistant director earlier this week. Andrea Gilles was tapped to lead the Planning and Urban Design Department as interim director.
Noguera called upon city leaders to continue the effort to provide affordable housing in Dallas.
“I thank you all for your support and pray that you continue to support the housing needs of those who call Dallas home,” he said.
