Technical Assistance Programs (TAPs) are part of the Advisory Services Program. TAPs were specifically designed to be run and implemented by District Councils. Advisory Services offers several options - project analysis sessions, fellows advisory panels, on-site analysis sessions, five-day panels, technical assistance programs, advisory workshops, and special services. All of these have four characteristics in common:

• A scope defined by the sponsor to ensure that their needs are met;
• An objective team of seasoned professionals who have addressed similar issues;
• Recommendations that build on what you have already done; and,
• The high-quality outcome for which ULI is known

2010 TAP Handbook is now available on the Technical Assistance Panel Resources webpage.

District Council TAPs Summary

ULI San Francisco surveyed 8 District Councils (Boston, Chicago, Colorado, Houston, Los Angeles, SE Florida/Caribbean, Utah, and Washington) to find out how each handled specific issues related to creating a successful TAP. Below is a summary of the results. The complete survey is posted online under Other Documents. You may also access the survey by clicking here.

• Most District Councils offer an average 2-3 TAPs a year.
• Format is typically 1.5 days.
• Especially after the initial start-up period, District Councils have not had trouble finding high-level volunteer panelists.
• In all cities, panelists must have no conflict of interest at start of TAP. Cities varied on their after-the-Panel conflict of interest agreements: some had none (or even encouraged Panelists to work with client), some have a 6-month grace period. 
• Charge varies, from client just covering expenses to $10,000.
• Staff time depends largely on how active the volunteer District Council TAPs Committee was, but is somewhere between 10-75 hours.
• Several District Councils have conducted Transit-Oriented TAPs.

For more information on the variety of services the Advisory Services Program offers, click here.

What are other District Councils doing?

ULI Arizona's last three panels were:

1) City of Apache Junction - requested a panel to review a redevelopment plan for the downtown area;
2) The Papago Salado Association - requested a planning session to assist with unifying the operation of Papago Park, located in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe;
3) The Southwest Autism Research Center requested a review of their plan for establishing a campus for their operation.

These panels were performed without charge to the non-profit sector and the responsibility for capturing the information for the one day session remains with the requesting group. Their are no panel reports on the ULI Arizona website for that reason, however there is an extensive section on ULI AZ TAPs that can be found here.

ULI Atlanta's TAP web page can be found here. The

2009
City of College Park Old National Highway Corridor
Report in Progress!

Atlanta Regional Commission Plan 2040
Report in Progress!

2008
Old Fourth Ward Redevelopment Plan - Implementation Strategy Report

2007
City of Atlanta - Improving the Permitting Process

2006
Inner Harbour - Long-term Strategic Land Use Plan for the Douglasville Campus

2005
Carroll County

ULI Chicago's TAP web page can be found here. The TAPs that have taken place in 2005 and 2010 are below.

2010
"Rosenwald Apartments: Evaluating the Future of a Community Legacy" - Chicago, IL

2008
"Discover Asia on Argyle" - Chicago, IL
"CMAP/Developments of Regional Importance" - Chicago, IL
"Michigan Avenue: Light, Life and Culture" - Chicago, IL
"Revitalizing a Classic American Town" - Wilmette, IL

2006
Housing - Chicago Heights (July 10 & 17)
Retail and Mixed-Use Development - Archer Avenue/Bridgeport Neighborhood (June 28-29)

2005
Redevelopment of Clark Street Commercial District - Andersonville/Edgewater  (September)
Implementation of TIF Plan - Peterson/Pulaski Industrial Corridor (August)
Economic Redevelopment/Reinvestment - Midlothian  (June)

ULI SE Florida/Caribbean held a panel on January 19 and 20 2006 for West Palm Beach Housing Authority on Dunbar Village. This two-day panel focused on the redesign of a 17 acre parcel owned and operated by the Housing Authority one mile north of downtown West Palm Beach.  The site currently contains 226 units of subsidized public housing built in 1939, and the Authority is interested in using the allowed density of 544 units to redevelop the site into the same or more units of Subsidized housing, add a segment of workforce housing and perhaps a market component. The panel offered two visions of possible redevelopment (one internally oriented and the second externally oriented), as well as a rough funding outline.

For more information on ULI SE Florida/Caribbean's TAP program, click here.