The nonprofit group that promotes Baltimore living is getting a new leader.

Live Baltimore's executive director of 4 ½ years, Anna Custer-Singh, is stepping down Friday and will be replaced by co-worker Steve Gondol. He's worked at Live Baltimore for four years, most recently as the business relationship manager.

Live Baltimore, best known outside of the city for its efforts to get D.C. denizens to relocate north, puts on twice-annual Buying Into Baltimore fairs, offers information about city neighborhoods and organizes various other housing-related events.

Custer-Singh, who announced in August that she was leaving, said the timing seemed right. Funding is in place for the fiscal year, which began in July. And it's time for the organization to begin working on a new five-year plan, to start next July.

It's been a difficult stretch for many nonprofit organizations, what with the rough economy and limited state and local funding. A group that focuses on housing also has the added headache of the housing bust.

"I won't deny it, it's been a challenge," said Gondol, a Patterson Park resident with a degree in urban planning. "But we have just been creative. Live Baltimore is a very positive, creative organization, so we just kind of continue to look at the silver lining in things and see if there are opportunities to adapt and take on new work."