Assistant City Manager Lori Houston, a key architect of the controversial Project Marvel, is retiring from the City of San Antonio after a 23 years.

City Manager Erik Walsh acknowledged Houston’s departure in a Friday afternoon email to the city executive team. Her last day at the city is Sept. 26.

Houston has been a central figure in developing numerous downtown projects. She told KSAT she plans to focus on her family before working part-time as an advisor with consulting firm ULTRAte Strategy.

“I really have a good 15 years left in me because I’m only 47,” Houston said in a Friday afternoon phone interview. “So, I think I’m going to really just figure out, you know...what do I want to do for that next chapter?"

Houston is one of five assistant city managers. She was appointed to the

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