Posted on June 5, 2017

The head of the North Denver Cornerstone Collaborative is leaving her position as chief coordinator of the major redevelopment projects in River North, Globeville and Elyria-Swansea.

Anna Jones said Friday in an email obtained by Denverite that she was resigning and her last day would be July 3. Mayor Michael Hancock appointed Jones as executive director of the collaborative a little over a year ago.

Jones confirmed her departure Monday. Unlike the previous head of the city’s Office of Economic Development, Paul Washington, Jones said she’s not leaving for another position.

Her short-term plan is to “focus on her family, enjoy the summer with her teenage sons and take her first professional hiatus in more than 20 years,” according to the city.

“The NDCC team is proud to have worked with Anna and will continue the great work she has led,” the city said in a statement. “She led the agency for the past year and together with her team advanced significant projects and programs benefiting the communities of Globeville, Elyria, Swansea and River North.”

In the email sent to “friends and partners,” Jones said the deputy director of the collaborative, Todd Wenskoski, will be filling in until a new director is named.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to work with all of you and connect with the communities in North Denver,” Jones wrote. “Thanks for your partnership over the last year, it’s been a great experience!”

Hancock created the collaborative in 2013 to align the planning and implementation of six major projects in North Denver: Brighton Boulevard improvements; Interstate 70 expansion; National Western Center expansion; neighborhood plans for Globeville, Elyria and Swansea; River North improvements and RTD station developments.

Jones replaced Kelly Leid as executive director of the organization in 2016 after Leid was named the head of the Office of the National Western Center. Before her appointment, Jones was senior vice president at the Denver-based economic development and planning firm Progressive Urban Management Associates — aka PUMA.

She also served two terms on the Denver Planning Board during the planning and implementation of Union Station and the citywide zoning code update and was chair of Downtown Colorado Inc. after several years on the board. Jones also ran for City Council in 2015 and has participated with various neighborhood groups in Denver.