<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1ZC6pW_1ATbhxuS00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1ZC6pW_1ATbhxuS00" width="1763" height="1175" ><figcaption>Photo by Gabriel Hathaway Winona Director of Commuinty Development Lucy McMartin (left) will retire this summer and be succeeded by Senior Planner Carlos Espinosa (right).</figcaption></figure>After nearly 40 years of service to the city of Winona, Director of Community Development Lucy McMartin will retire this July. During her time, McMartin supported the development of housing and businesses, as well as the revitalization of downtown Winona and the creation of the East End industrial park. Senior Planner Carlos Espinosa will succeed McMartin as the new director of community development. McMartin first started working for the city in 1987 as the community development specialist, which focused on pursuing and administering grants, many housing grants, and assisting housing and commercial rehabilitation, McMartin said. In 1995, McMartin became what would now be called a development coordinator and worked closely with the Winona Port Authority. For the last 15 years, McMartin has served the city as the director of community development. In this role, McMartin said her duties include working with business owners, homeowners, developers, on construction, rehabilitation, or expansion projects, as well as overseeing the planning and inspection departments. During her tenure, McMartin said housing has always been a major focus for her and the community development department. Yearly, the office administers Minnesota Housing grants for housing rehabilitation and first-time homebuyer assistance. McMartin also supported new housing construction such as Water’s Edge Apartments, a low-income development on Mankato Avenue that received a city tax break in 2021. “Housing was important [when I started]; it’s even more important now because of trying to make housing more affordable,” McMartin said. “We have taken a focus on that within our department since I was here and before. We advocate for those dollars and write grants and try to secure funding to help with housing.” McMartin also supported investments in downtown and the East End’s Technology Park, which helped provide industrial business space to keep their roots in Winona.Winona Mayor Scott Sherman lauded the impact that Technology Park has made and credited much of downtown’s vibrancy in the last 20-30 years to McMartin. “She's touched just about every aspect of this community in one way, shape or form, whether it's housing or economic development through retail or commercial or industrial businesses,” Sherman said. He added that McMartin has been instrumental in keeping businesses in town that may have otherwise left. He noted that Anova suffered a fire a few years ago but the Port Authority approved a tax break for the business to help it build back and stay in town. More recently, the Port Authority sold a lot in Technology Park to hydraulics company Ronco Engineering Sales to facilitate its expansion and keep the business in town.McMartin said she didn’t do everything herself and credited her team and predecessors for their work as well. While she has enjoyed her time with the city, McMartin said that after 38 years, she is ready for retirement and to spend more time with her friends and family and enjoying her hobbies.In her place, the city manager selected longtime city planner Carlos Espinosa to serve as the next director of community development. Espinosa has been with the city for 18 years this June. He started as an assistant city planner, before moving up the ranks to senior planner. During his time with the city, Espinosa has worked on a variety of projects including developing standards for heavy truck traffic when frac sand transportation caused local controversy, developing standards for short-term rentals, as well as rewriting the zoning code. The zoning code had not been updated since 1960, Espinosa said, adding that the update streamlined the zoning districts, allowed more mixed use developments, and created design standards downtown and screening requirements to make things look better, he said. Espinosa also worked heavily on the city’s multi-year process to update its comprehensive plan, the city’s long-range planning document that sets goals for the future.Espinosa said he is humbled and honored to be taking on the director of community development position. He noted that the role has a significant impact on the community, adding that the new downtown hotel, 44 North, and the removal of the abandoned railyard and levee improvements are due to McMartin. He added that her predecessor, Judy Bodway, who passed away this winter, played a huge role in the development of the Walmart and Menards area on the East End. “There’s a lot that this position can do and has done to further the city of Winona and make it a better place for people to live as well as start a business or expand their business,” Espinosa said.Sherman said he has full confidence in Espinosa and his abilities. “He will have some to learn, that's just part of taking on a new role like this,” Sherman said. But he's got a phenomenal team in there.” He added, “We're sad to lose Lucy, but we're excited for Carlos.” </div></body>

Block Source: winonapost.com

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After nearly 40 years of service to the city of Winona, Director of Community Development Lucy McMartin will retire this July. During her time, McMartin supported the development of housing and businesses, as well as the revitalization of downtown Winona and the creation of the East End industrial park. Senior Planner Carlos Espinosa will succeed McMartin as the new director of community development.

Winona's longtime economic development head to retire

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After nearly 40 years of service to the city of Winona, Director of Community Development Lucy McMartin will retire this July. During her time, McMartin su

Winona's longtime economic development head to retire

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