1. Alma Affordable Housing Project A Study in Collaborative Leadership
Dr. Frank Benest

2. Palo Alto Case Study

3. 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

4. Palo Alto Case Study Listen to case study as it unfolds
Note & jot down key elements of the collaborative leadership process

5. 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

6. Palo Alto Case Study

7. Palo Alto Case Study

8. 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

9. Palo Alto Case Study

10. Palo Alto Case Study

11. Palo Alto Case Study

12. Palo Alto Case Study The “Team” Disparate group No commitment, little
energy
Over time, struggled to overcome obstacles, find solutions together
Everyone made contribution

13. 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

14. 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

15. Palo Alto Case Study

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21. Palo Alto Case Study
What collaborative leadership approaches did you discern from the case study?

22. Courage

23. Palo Alto Case Study What happened? What was Frank’s reaction?
Epilogue

24. Resources Review packet materials Books on promoting creative thinking
Frans Johansson, The Medici Effect,
2004

25. 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”

26. Reaction Panel What resonated with you? What did not?
What is one practical take-away that you can begin using tomorrow?