The Charleston Urban Renewal Authority is looking for a new executive director.
Jim Edwards, CURA's director for the past five years, confirmed his resignation Friday. An agenda for a special meeting of CURA's Board of Directors next week includes mention of an advertisement for his position.
Edwards began working for CURA in May 2011 and said he'll stay in the position until October.
"I turned 62 three weeks ago," he said Friday. "I don't know how many more years I've got in this world, so I decided I would return to my hometown, where I still have family and lifelong friends, and be around them."
A native of Lakeland, Florida, Edwards said the position in Charleston was the first time he'd ever moved outside of his home state.
During the meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, the board will develop an advertisement for the open position, which Edwards said likely would be printed locally and sent to national organizations involved in urban redevelopment.
The board also will go into closed session during the meeting to complete his annual performance review.
Edwards said that once the position is advertised, the first step will be to narrow down the candidates based on the submitted job applications.
"Then I'm sure, at some point, they will invite [a] number of folks to visit here and be interviewed," he said.
He added that the board wants to hire someone before he leaves in October, so he can help familiarize the new director with the job, "to hopefully make a good transition."
Before his arrival, Edwards had 20 years of experience working for public agencies in the urban renewal field, and another 10 years working in real estate development and consulting in the private sector.
"It's a positive thing," he said of his upcoming departure. "I certainly am happy with the way things have gone here."
Reach Elaina Sauber at elaina.sauber@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-3051 or follow @Elaina Sauber on Twitter.