Alma Affordable Housing Project A Study in Collaborative Leadership Dr. Frank Benest frank@frankbenest.com www.frankbenest.com
Palo Alto Case Study
The Situation Palo Alto has become unaffordable, elite community Council had established goal of promoting affordable housing Frank had personal goal & passion for creating very low-income family housing & promoting more balance & equity in community What was typical reaction in Palo Alto to creating very-low income rental housing for families? This was classic adaptive challenge
Palo Alto Case Study Listen to case study as it unfolds Note & jot down key elements of the collaborative leadership process
Palo Alto Case Study Alma Street Affordable Housing Project Alma Street Electrical Substation in downtown across from train station Use city land to create low-income family project Substation on state-mandated Housing Inventory Engage Community Working Group (faith-based advocacy group) and Eden Housing, Inc. (non-profit developer) as partners
Palo Alto Case Study
Palo Alto Case Study
Palo Alto Case Study The Problems 1. Stanford wanted $1.5 M to lease land for new substation 2. General Fund would lose $1 M/yr in lease revenue 3. Two key Council Members had conflicts 4. Site abutted newly-built million-dollar condos 5. Site was constrained; adjoining parcels were expensive
Palo Alto Case Study
Palo Alto Case Study
Palo Alto Case Study
Palo Alto Case Study The “Team” Disparate group No commitment, little energy Over time, struggled to overcome obstacles, find solutions together Everyone made contribution
Palo Alto Case Study Leadership Solutions Provided Stanford $1.5 M housing fee credit Negotiated $1 M contribution to General Fund from adjoining condo developer Purchased auto shop site with in-lieu funds from other developer Created new non-profit entity not involving Council Members
Palo Alto Case Study Leadership Solutions Swapped ownership interest with hardware and office owners to create mixed-use project Engaged neighbors through Community Working Group Project now included low-income family rentals over hardware store and low-income senior units over office and services
Palo Alto Case Study
Palo Alto Case Study
Palo Alto Case Study
Palo Alto Case Study
Palo Alto Case Study
Palo Alto Case Study
Palo Alto Case Study What collaborative leadership approaches did you discern from the case study?
Courage
Palo Alto Case Study What happened? What was Frank’s reaction? Epilogue
Resources Review packet materials Books on promoting creative thinking Frans Johansson, The Medici Effect, 2004
Resources (con’t) ICMA Coaching Program Webinars www.icma.org/coaching One-to-one coaching match-ups Women Leading Govt Career Compass advice columns “Bouncing Back From Defeat” “Selling Your Ideas” “Smart Risks” www.icma.org/compass
Reaction Panel What resonated with you? What did not? What is one practical take-away that you can begin using tomorrow?
frank@frankbenest.com everetted@comcast.net