Laserfiche WebLink
buildings will be likely to be constructed in the next five to ten years, possibly bringing back the "vertical <br />industrial" model of manufacturing and shop space prevalent before World War I. <br />3: The Strategy for Change <br />3.1 Three Primary Strategies <br />To strategically position the districts advantageously for the forces of change confronting these <br />historically industrial workplace areas, we recommend three primary strategies: <br />3.1.1. Boost value-added companies. <br />The City Council's economic initiatives of January 2013 included a directive to specifically, "Undertake <br />programs and advance projects promoting sustainable economic development, including transforming <br />San Leandro into a center for innovation." The measures that the City has employed to shift downtown <br />towards transit -oriented development, develop and attract a tech campus, promote use of the <br />LitSanLeandro fiber loop, introduce food trucks and events to create new ambience and more diverse <br />cultural choices are all strong steps in this direction. Taking measures in the industrial districts to <br />nurture and attract value-added companies and entrepreneurs to locate to and expand there and <br />strengthening its business livability will make innovation not just a downtown phenomena of software <br />and high-end service industry, but also of San Leandro's industrial areas and its heritage of making <br />things. With the districts' current large square footages of low-density, low value-added use, even a <br />small shift in the percentage of that space to advanced manufacturing and related industrial uses - <br />particularly by building on the specializations still found in the districts - would increase the quality as <br />well as quantity of employment. We cannot guarantee that all of those jobs would go to San Leandrans, <br />but "higher value-added" will potentially create stronger fiscal benefits to the City, network benefits to <br />the business and innovation ecosytem, and a broader base of civic image and pride as well. <br />3.1.2. Engage existing customers. <br />Past policies were focused on attracting large firms to town with low taxes, land write downs and <br />utilitarian infrastructure. That made sense in an assembly -line era when large firms created value. The <br />21st Century innovation environment is one of networks, supply chains and horizontal collaboration - a <br />much different business landscape. Changing San Leandro's industrial landscape starts with the City <br />having a better knowledge of and relationships with existing value-added companies of the kind that the <br />city wants more of. Not only are these firms already there and producing jobs, but they are the best <br />source of referrals for new business. You will want them talking up the place at their next industry <br />conference. You will want them telling other companies in their supply chain that this is a good place to <br />do business. But how to get them involved? A manager running a computerized chocolate factory is <br />probably not going to take two hours off in the middle of the day to attend a planning meeting. You <br />have to make it worth their while to get involved, to take care of a street parking or missing sign <br />problem today. Only then will they get involved in the longer-term planning issues. Various measures to <br />15 <br />