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
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

16. Palo Alto Case Study

17. Palo Alto Case Study

18. Palo Alto Case Study

19. Palo Alto Case Study

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

28. 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”

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