All good things must come to an end.
While the saying may be cliché, saying farewell to EaDo Management District’s Executive Director Anton Sinkewich as he moves on (from Houston to Colorado!) is no trite sentiment.
In his seven years officially representing EaDo District, Anton was more than just a spokesperson. He used his extensive knowledge of urban development and planning to create partnerships with many different parties in order to advance the neighborhood for the greater good.
Martin Chave, the Director of Operations and Constituent Services of the East End District, echoed this sentiment, saying, “I truly believe Anton left EADO in way better shape than he found it. So sad to see Anton go but I know he’s on a mission to make this world a better place.”
Part of Anton’s mission was to create a real community with a grand vision, and included revitalizing, rather than eliminating, characteristics that defined the neighborhood as a distinctive place in Houston. This work led to a Civic Vision Award in 2018, presented by the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
Local developers like David Denenburg appreciated Anton’s contributions to the area, saying, “The ‘mayor’ of EaDo leaves big shoes to fill and will be sorely missed. Anton understood all aspects of the management district and most importantly, he understood the importance of grass roots development and keeping the character of the old neighborhood intact. He was able to leverage scant resources into significant changes to EaDo. These changes were a catalyst for EADO’s transformation into of the most sought after neighborhoods in Houston. He is leaving his predecessor with a strong tailwind at their back.”
Those that watched Anton’s vision come to fruition are especially grateful, whether they come from the civic or business side. Apurva Sanghavi, co-founder of Start Houston, explains his impact, saying, “I met Anton through the early days of his role as the EaDo Exec Director, and quite frankly his vision for East Downtown was bold and ambitious for a part of town with dated warehouses and no real community. During the nearly six years I’ve seen him action, not only did he execute many aspects of what he thought EaDo could be, but I think it’s safe to say it just wouldn’t be the vibrant, liveable and walkable community it is today without him. He is leaving his mark on our neighborhood and we owe him a tremendous gratitude for his work with East Downtown.”
Even those that didn’t know Anton personally have seen positive effects of his efforts in the area’s development. New EaDo board member and Oak Farms Dairy Shipping Manager Jeremy Conner reflected that, though he hasn’t had the honor of working with Anton for very long, “having worked in the District for the past four years, I can’t help but notice all the wonderful improvements that are happening around my work place. Anton’s hard work and dedication has been invaluable to the positive changes we are seeing in our district.”
In short, though Anton will be missed, we wish him the best in his new endeavors, and end on this message from Board President Shahin Naghavi: “As the saying goes, EaDo is the Heart and Soul of Houston, and there is no doubt over the last few years, Anton has been the heart and soul of the management district. His guidance and vision will be greatly missed.”