New Haven Independent

Erik Johnson, a New Haven native currently working in D.C., has been chosen as executive director of the Livable City Initiative.

Johnson is due to start Feb. 1, according to Economic Development Administrator Kelly Murphy, who announced the news Monday in a letter to aldermen.

Johnson will end a year-long flux for the agency, which was founded in the early ’90s. Andy Rizzo, who led LCI for six years, stepped down at the end of 2008, so he could stop holding two top city jobs at once. Walter Esdaile briefly took over as the result of an age discrimination complaint. Frank D’Amore is the current acting chief.

Johnson is currently a project manager at William C. Smith + Co., a real estate firm in D.C. He grew up in New Haven and graduated from Trinity College in Hartford in 1994. He has a masters in city and regional planning from Morgan State University. Click here to check out his resume.

As LCI chief, Johnson will make $94,000 per year, according to mayoral spokeswoman Jessica Mayorga.