Top U. retail director departs post

After six years in the office of Facilities and Real Estate Services, former Managing Director of Planning and Development Tom Lussenhop has become the chief executive officer of the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation in Columbus, Ohio.

Lussenhop officially took over the highly-sought position of CEO on Nov. 1, beating out over 150 other applicants for the post.

While Lussenhop could not be reached to comment on his new position, Business First -- a Columbus-based business journal -- reported that his focus as CEO will be on the renewal of the downtown area as a "residential neighborhood" through the development of "up to 10,000 apartments and condos" in the urban community over the next decade.

According to Vice President for Facilities and Real Estate Services Omar Blaik, Lussenhop's new position is, in many ways, merely an extension of the jobs he held at Penn.

"Tom has been tremendously engaged with all of the transformation around the campus," Blaik said, explaining that in his new position, Lussenhop will "take what he has learned [at Penn] and apply it to a larger scale."

In his initial years at the University, Lussenhop served within the realm of real estate operations. But as the University lessened and eventually terminated its relationship with the Dallas-based facility-management company Trammell Crow, Lussenhop gradually moved into his real estate development position.

During his time at the University, Lussenhop worked on such developments as the Bridge: Cinema de Lux, the Freshgrocer, University Square and retail areas along 40th Street.

According to Barry Grossbach -- executive vice president of the Spruce Hill Community Association and chairman of its zoning committee -- until Lussenhop began working at the University, there was little interaction between Penn and the surrounding areas of West Philadelphia.

"Tom called me when he first came to the University," Grossbach said, noting that it was "most unusual for anybody in the University to contact anyone in the community" regarding issues that affected Penn and nearby residents during that time.

"But then again," Grossbach added, "the University wasn't doing a hell of a lot beyond 40th Street."

In addition to creating a stable working relationship and positive connection with many West Philadelphia residents, Grossbach explained that Lussenhop played a part in helping the University to "move beyond its self-contained cocoon" by concentrating on the benefits of more closely connecting the two communities.

Grossbach noted that instead of choosing to further isolate Penn from its urban setting, during the past five years, Lussenhop and Penn administrators have chosen to enhance the surrounding environment of the school, which has benefited not only students, but nearby residents as well.

While Lussenhop's absence leaves a vacancy within the facilities office, Blaik explained that the opening has occurred at a time during which the office and staff is "strong" and well-prepared to handle extra responsibilities.

Blaik predicts that Lussenhop's former position should be filled within the next few weeks.

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