The Gesti.Tec Lab of the Milan Polytechnic and NCTM have recently launched a joint project: the creation of the Osservatorio Permanente sulla Pubblica Amministrazione Locale (OPPAL ñ the Permanent Observatory on the Local Public Administration), an agency intended to map and analyse in depth the methods and the time requirements for Public Agencies to pass town-planning implementation instruments. The Osservatorio was discussing the major issues burdening real estate investments in Italy, the project aimed at analysing the status quo in some of the most important Italian Local Public Administrative Agencies, being both deeply convinced that the Local PAs play a decisive role in town transformation and redevelopment processes.