Commissioner Melanie E. La Rocca today announced the proposed creation of the Major Projects Development Program in the Department of Buildings, a new voluntary program for the city’s largest building construction projects.

The new initiative aims to improve both safety and efficiency on these complex sites by increasing the levels of assistance and collaboration throughout the development process, from the initial filing of the application through to the final validation of the applications. project completed.

By providing consistent consultations to these developers regarding planning for effective compliance with city regulations, this program aims to help construction projects start safely and avoid work stoppages.

“By expanding our consulting model and creating a truly global service in the development process of these large, complex projects, we can boost New York City’s economy by helping to turn lines on paper into shovels in the ground.” », Declared La Rocca, building commissioner. .

“Equally important, by increasing our footprint on these sites, we can help construction operations on these large projects run as efficiently as possible, reducing both incidents on the sites and negative impacts on the quality of the work. life felt by neighbors in the communities of the five boroughs. ”

Participants who enroll in the Major Project Development Program will benefit from personalized DOB consulting services from knowledgeable staff, which will help them avoid costly delays and inefficiencies. In order to facilitate this new level of service for major developments, the Department plans to create a Major Projects Development Unit within the agency.

The personalized support and coordination of the Major Projects Development Unit for participating projects will allow them to save time at each phase of their development project, in particular:

Zoning and Code Compliance Planning

Staging of deposits, permits and occupancy

Construction operations, site safety and public safety

Issuance of temporary and final occupancy certificates

As currently proposed, the new program would be open to developers of proposed new construction projects of 20 floors or more, new construction projects of at least 500,000 s / f, modification projects that will enlarge a building existing of at least 100,000 square feet, or any other complex project designated by the Department to be eligible.

Acceptance into the program will be limited on a first come, first served basis, and continued program enrollment will be dependent on the developer’s commitment to regularly communicate with DOB and adherence to our guidelines. Participants will be required to pay a program registration fee.

The Major Projects Development Program is created as part of the Ministry’s rulemaking process, which is based in part on public input. A public hearing for this program will be organized by the Department on 11/22/21. Read the proposed rules for the program here.

“New York City’s full economic recovery will require development projects that create a significant number of new jobs and housing to move quickly and safely through the approval pipeline,” said REBNY President , James Whelan. “REBNY commends the Ministry of Buildings for providing an innovative but practical approach to facilitate the timely completion of such projects. “

“One of the best and most proven ways to jumpstart New York’s economy is to build, and we’re ready to do it,” said Carlo A. Scissura, President and CEO of The New York Building Congress. “Large projects are often more complicated, so creating this program will hopefully lead to streamlined processes and increased efficiency. The New York Building Congress commends the Department of Buildings for its efforts in working with members of the industry to ensure that nothing is slowing our recovery. ”

“The BTEA welcomes the creation of the new Major Projects Development Program and thanks Commissioner La Rocca for her leadership,” said Louis J. Coletti, President and CEO, Association of Construction Trades Employers. “This program will streamline a number of parallel processes into a single track for large projects, from design to completion. We are committed to working with the Ministry to make this program a great success.

“As New York City continues to grow, it is imperative that major projects and critical development opportunities unfold quickly,” said Brian Sampson, president of Associated Builders and Contractors, Empire State Chapter. “Too often we see projects delayed and sometimes investments shifted to other markets. This new voluntary program between the owner, the contractor and the Ministry of Buildings will ensure that complex projects do not face permit issues and work stoppages while maintaining a high level of commitment to safety and security. quality.

“The consulting engineering community thanks the DOB for continuing to identify new ways to meet the challenges of the large and complex projects that make New York City unique,” ​​said John Evers, President and CEO of the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York (ACEC New York). “We support the Ministry’s initiative; this solution will have an immediate impact on the review of eligible projects and has the potential to identify approaches that will improve the process for all projects.

“The New York State Society of Professional Engineers supports the major project development program,” said Joseph A Pasaturo, president of NYSSPE. “Having the Ministry of Buildings as a partner working to resolve potential issues that can slow down the construction process on large projects is a win-win solution for everyone. This will reduce the costs of major construction projects and improve communications between stakeholders and the Department.

“The New York Coalition of Code Consultants (NYCCC) supports DOB’s innovative approach to improve efficiency and increase collaboration for large, complex projects,” said Domenick Chieco, president of NYCCC. “We look forward to working closely with the Ministry on this new initiative.

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