NYC Development Hub Expanded to Accept Smaller Projects
Licensed design professionals can submit plans and obtain permits electronically for home renovations, office makeovers, façade repairs, etc.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and NYC Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri recently announced an expansion of the NYC Development Hub, which has approved more than 330 digitally submitted new building plans and major renovation projects since its launch in October 2011. The Development Hub was created to accelerate the construction project approval process; the new program, Hub Self-Service, allows licensed design professionals to submit plans, pay fees, and obtain permits online for the smallest construction projects, such as home renovations, office improvements, and façade repairs.
More than 50,000 applications for small projects are submitted for this kind of work each year. The online system will save the city's building industry as much as $50 million per year in labor costs, according to the department.
"We launched the NYC Development Hub to combine new technology with great customer service to expedite safe construction, and it has surpassed our expectations," Bloomberg said. "Now we're building on its success by allowing plans for tens of thousands of small construction projects to be submitted and approved online, accelerating the building process like never before. The hub is just the latest example of how we're using technology to eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic delays, break down silos between agencies, and enhance the way city government does business."
"The NYC Development Hub speeds up the approval process for construction projects, increases business development and creates more jobs for New Yorkers," said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. "By using the latest technology, we're making sure government regulation doesn't stand in the way of economic growth and serves our city's residents faster and better every day."