Sterling Bay hires new director of diversity

After a bruising Lincoln Yards approval process that included being called out for having an overwhelmingly white male executive staff, Sterling Bay added a staffer to oversee its diversity efforts.

The Chicago-based developer hired Keiana Barrett as its first ever director of diversity and strategic development, according to Crain’s.

The South Side native will be charged with developing programs to boost a diverse “community, culture and climate” at Sterling Bay, according to Crain’s. She previously served in communications roles with the Chicago Public Schools and the DuSable Museum of African-American History.

Barrett’s hiring comes months after Sterling Bay was lambasted for a lack of diversity. At one of the meetings on Lincoln Yards, Ald. David Moore (17th) displayed a poster board showing 19 of 21 photos on Sterling Bay’s senior leadership webpage were of white men.

Sterling Bay responded by appointing Shelly Burke as the company’s new director of community engagement and diversity compliance, and Burke played a prominent role at some of the public meetings held regarding Lincoln Yards.

The criticism did not derail the Lincoln Yards plan, which received zoning approval and $1.3 billion in tax increment financing in the final days of the Rahm Emanuel administration.

Since then, the firm announced several plans to develop in South and West side neighborhoods. Sterling Bay is teaming with Skender to build 10 affordable three-flats on the West Side. It is also partnering with DL3 Realty on at least a half-dozen South Side developments. [Crain’s] — Joe Ward