Historically, one of ULI SF’s most community impact-oriented programs, Technical Assistance Panels (TAPs) provide expert, multidisciplinary advice to local governments, public agencies and nonprofit organizations facing complex land use and real estate issues in the greater Bay Area.

TAP panels are made up of senior-level experts drawn from ULI SF’s 2,300 members and are comprised of CEOs, partners, executives, and policymakers — all of whom are ready to leverage their skills, experience, and expertise to give back to the communities with which we partner. ULI SF has conducted over thirty TAPs at the local level, assisting numerous cities throughout the Bay Area tackle complex policy and land use issues. Time and again, cities have been able to implement our recommendations – the City of Dublin, for example, is an excellent case study of how a TAP can positively impact a City’s growth.

In 2011, the City of Dublin engaged a ULI SF TAP Panel to prioritize the execution of the Specific Plan through a series of focused questions. The panel conducted stakeholder meetings, a SWOT analysis, a site tour and interviews, and identified what they felt were the most pressing issues and resulting recommendations, which can be read in detail in the final TAP report. Since 2011, the City of Dublin has implemented many of the TAP recommendations including a focus on the Transit Oriented District (TOD) and encouraging public investment in private property via façade improvement and outside dining activities. The City has also completed several public improvement projects downtown, including streetscape enhancements and wayfinding signage, as well as installing free Wi-Fi throughout the downtown area. Following the positive momentum from the TAP in 2011, the City of Dublin is reengaging ULI SF for a second TAP that will focus on improvements to their retail district.

ULI SF is currently accepting applications for potential TAP partnerships. TAP applications are reviewed and selected by the committee on a rolling basis.

If your city or agency has a land use or real estate challenges that could benefit from a TAP, you can learn more here and contact Natalie Sandoval, ULI SF’s Director and team lead for the TAP program.