As we continue to address CA’s housing crisis, there is an opportunity to re-envision exclusionary and restrictive zoning regulations for smart growth. ULI SF’s new Housing Feasibility Consultation examines common conflicts between zoning regulations and the practicalities of housing construction, as well as the resulting impacts on housing costs.

The offering has two separate components:

1. Webinar: ULI SF members and staff developed an educational webinar for city staff, public officials, and policymakers that covered common code roadblocks in housing construction. This was held on September 22^nd, 2021 and a recording can be viewed here.
2. Housing Feasibility Consultation: A one-on-one consultation, designed for public agencies, in which proposed code language can be reviewed and specific sites can be “test-fit”, resulting in analysis and recommendations from a ULI team of experts.

We understand that each city in the Bay Area has unique conditions and codes and specific feedback from practitioners and experts in the field could be beneficial while crafting policies and regulations that impact housing development. A Housing Feasibility Consultation provides an opportunity for public agencies to dive into a handful of topics including but not limited to: height, density, parking, and open space in their own specific context.

Who are The Panelists:
ULI SF will engage a developer and an architect with specific knowledge and experience for each assignment. We will curate each team from our 2,200+ members in the ULI SF district council. ULI members are unpaid volunteers.

If you are a ULI SF member that is interested in participating as a panelist for a Housing Feasibility Consultation, please reach out to Natalie Sandoval: [email protected].

What are the Deliverables:
The panelist team will present their findings to the city in a 1-2 hour Zoom meeting, which will include a presentation and time for in-depth discussion. As a final deliverable, the city will be provided with the presentation and a short memo summarizing the recommended strategies.

Process & Timeline:
The lead time for a Housing Feasibility Consultation is 2-3 months. In preparation, the city will be asked to provide ULI SF with specific zoning or design guideline language and two or three specific sites to study. Two ULI member experts, an architect and a developer, will study the sites and provide a focused analysis and test-fits for the city on what works as well as specific strategies to aid the construction of housing in their community. The ULI SF member team will meet with city staff to understand the guidelines and the proposed sites to further inform their analysis. The team will present their findings to the city and provide them with a copy of their presentation and a short memo summarizing the recommended strategies within one week of the final presentation.

What is the Application Process:
If you represent a city that is interested in a Housing Feasibility Consultation, please send a letter of interest to Natalie Sandoval, Senior Director at ULI SF, for more information: [email protected].

Cost:
The cost of this ULI SF offering is between $6,000-$10,000 depending on the number of sites and specific needs.

Image courtesy of David Baker Architects