Hired From Short-Term Rental Industry, New Land Use Head Will Also Lead Economic Development in NOLA

New Orleans is attempting a "major paradigm shift" in marrying land use control with economic development goals.

1 minute read

July 30, 2020, 6:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


New Orleans Aerial

SF photo / Shutterstock

"The city of New Orleans has hired Peter Bowen, the former general manager of major short-term rental operator Sonder, as the city’s new deputy chief administrative officer of land use," reports Michael Isaac Stein. 

"In his new position, Bowen will manage and oversee major departments including the Department of Code Enforcement and the Department of Safety and Permits, whose long list of responsibilities includes short-term rental permitting and enforcement," adds Stein. 

The city is pitching Bowen's hire as a "major paradigm shift" for the city to more effectively integrate land use regulation and economic development. To reflect that shift, Bowen is taking over from a predecessor's job title, but with an expanded purview, as the "founding entrepreneur" of the newly created Office of Business and External Services.

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