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Alma Affordable Housing Project A Study in Collaborative Leadership

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

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Alma Affordable Housing Project A Study in Collaborative Leadership

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  1. Alma Affordable Housing ProjectA Study in Collaborative Leadership Dr. Frank Benest frank@frankbenest.com www.frankbenest.com

  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 • Street Electrical Substation in downtown across from train station • Use city-owned land to create low-income family project • 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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  17. Palo Alto Case Study

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  20. Palo Alto Case Study

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

  22. Leadership Strategies 1. Build relationships and rapport 2. Be on the look out for opportunities 3. Use “positive regard” (Eric Fromm) 4. Help build a broad and engaging vision 5. Engage partners, listen to them, and integrate their interests

  23. Leadership Strategies (con’t) 6. Contribute resources 7. Start incrementally to build confidence and trust 8. Tenaciously and creatively solve problems with partners 9. Try out new roles/ learn as you go

  24. Leadership Strategies (con’t) 10. Tell a compelling story • Affordable housing for workforce and low-income seniors • Mixed use project, enhancing streetscape • Transit-oriented • Adjacent to downtown services, parks and schools plus on-site programs • Preserved neighborhood retail • Intergenerational programming • Green building

  25. Courage

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

  27. Convener and conversation starter Translator Story teller and framer of issues Dream-maker Journey leader Engager Follower Teacher Learner Cheerleader Party host Different Leadership Roles

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

  29. Resources (con’t) • Cal-ICMA Coaching Program • Webinars www.cal-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.frankbenest.com

  30. Reaction Panel What resonated with you? What did not? What do you have to add?

  31. frank@frankbenest.com everetted@comcast.net

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