Alan DeLisle was hired earlier this month to head the Downtown Development Corporation, the semi-public agency that helps the mayor’s office keep a handle on major (and minor) downtown projects. DeLisle comes from Durham, NC, where he held a similar position in city development. 

The Independent Weekly, LEO’s sister paper in Durham, has done several stories on what was DeLisle’s swan song there, a 2,800-seat theater that will host shows (recently, B.B. King), plays and so forth. The paper is also known for being critical of DeLisle and the city’s development deal for the theater, which — boiled down — started with a no-bid contract, lots of taxpayer money and a small commitment from a developer. Sound familiar? 

Here’s a story about DeLisle’s new job in Louisville, and here’s a snippet: 

Like Cordish, the Swedish construction firm Skanska USA Building was awarded a no-bid contract to build Durham’s DPAC. However, unlike Louisville’s Metro Council, the Durham City Council approved the contract, and all subsequent amendments, which DeLisle brought to council in the form of memoranda, after negotiating with developers.