The program goal is to spur economic growth

Yesterday the city launched the “Get It Done” pilot program to expedite city agency approval on construction projects. The new program aims to spur economic growth by accelerating the building permit process, which often requires approvals from multiple government agencies, making the process “complex and burdensome,” according to the city’s announcement.

The new program will gather a working group of multiple city agencies, including the five Department of Buildings’ (DOB) borough commissioners, throughout May. That group will meet with property owners, licensed architects and engineers, and filing representatives whose projects have yet to be approved due to previous objections raised by DOB’s plan examiners.

By bringing together senior city officials and construction-project managers, the group can “further streamline permitting requirements, resolve regulatory conflicts and cut through the bureaucratic red tape that surrounds some of the city’s largest -- and smallest -- proposed construction projects,” reads the announcement.

Deputy Mayor for Operations Stephen Goldsmith, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert Steel, and Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri made the announcement on May 3rd, noting that in 2010, DOB’s plan examiners reviewed and approved 457,000 construction plans submitted by architects and engineers licensed by New York State. Plan examiners can raise objections ranging from safety-related requirements, to missing required documents. The “Get It Done” program allows those projects stalled by such objections to clarify and remedy the issues or order to proceed with construction.

To learn more about “Get It Done” and to participate, visit www.nyc.gov or email GetItDoneTogether@buildings.nyc.gov to correspond with the Buildings Department.