San Leandro Should Create Its Own Business Story

What is your story?

That's the question a keynote speaker asked business leaders at a forum Wednesday morning on remaking San Leandro's economy.

Rod Stevens, a development expert with Spinnaker Strategies of Seattle, was one of two main speakers at the "Reworking Suburbia" seminar held at San Leandro's Arts Education Center.

The event, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce's San Leandro By Design organization, was attended by more than 70 business officials and students from San Leandro High School.

Stevens told the audience the economy is changing and moving forward. He said China and India are galloping along with it and communities in the United States need to do the same.

He told the "stone soup" story where a community makes soup from water, a few stones and whatever vegetables are available.

"The assets are here in the community. You have to cook together," said Stevens.

He urged San Leandro to create its own image, not to simply try to be an extension of Silicon Valley.

"You want to be something in your own right," he said.

Stevens said San Leandro has always been known for "making things" and it shouldn't get away from that manufacturing base. He said the town just needs to adjust that strength to more high-tech, medical or information-based products.

"These are possibilities we should be looking for in the future," he said. "What are we going to make and sell to the world?"

Stevens said San Leandro needs to be authentic and decide what story it wants the rest of the world to see.

"You have to be true to who you are. That's what sets you apart," he said.

He urged business leaders to do what Chattanooga, Tenn., did. That community listened to thousands of its residents and then drew up a "bite-sized" list of things to do.

"If you're successful, people will say 'I want to be part of that place,'" said Stevens.

The audience also heard from Greg Tung, an Oakland resident who is an urban designer with Freedman, Tung & Sasaki.

Tung urged San Leandro to connect its downtown, industrial sectors and business clusters with drivable roads, pedestrian pathways, archways and other amenities.

"Look for ways to overcome obstacles," he said. "Our way of doing things has made us think of every lot as an island unto itself."

Tung also urged property owners to use landscaping to make their establishments more visible and more inviting.

He said improvements such as outdoor patios, trees and small sidewalk gardens can draw people to their part of town.

The conference also heard from Chamber President Dave Johnson, San Leandro By Design Principal Gaye Quinn, Mayor Stephen Cassidy and Karen Engel of the East Bay Economic Development Association.

Three chief executive officers also spoke about issues in San Leandro development. They were David Irmer of The Inninsfree Companies, Edward Miller of Cal-Coast and Dr. J. Patrick Kennedy of OSIsoft.

After the morning session, participants ate lunch at , a restaurant on Bancroft Avenue that has just added outdoor seating.