September 2015
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Election Results and Building One City on the Agenda for Our Annual Conference and Leadership Breakfast

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Our Nov. 12 Annual Conference and Leadership Breakfast is living up to its name with the agenda first announcing the results of our BOMA/NY elections, and then focusing exclusively on the steps being taken by Rick Chandler, the Commissioner of the Department of Buildings, (DOB) to implement Building One City, the initiative being touted as the "Blueprint for Fundamental Transformation at the New York City Department of Buildings."

Join us to hear the Commissioner discuss the blueprint, which Mayor Bill de Blasio characterized as "fundamental reform" in his State of the City address earlier this year.

Chandler has characterized the dual, occasionally conflicting nature of the tasks that DOB staff must undertake as "juggling the responsibilities of being staunch enforcers of the New York City Construction Codes and advocates for growth—keeping projects moving, the economy expanded, people employed and businesses opening." (As a point of reference, they enforce codes and resolutions on over 1 million buildings and construction sites, and in 2014, issued 140,000 construction permits.) He points to the Mayor’s vision of creating an equitable and efficient DOB as the foundation of Building One City, and the DOB will, "through an unprecedented infusion of resources"—320 new positions and $120 million in funding—be transformed.

Stating unequivocally that "development is crucial to our city," Chandler lays out the challenges that lie ahead: ensuring continued economic growth and prosperity, spurring the development of affordable housing, improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and helping buildings and neighborhoods withstand sea level rise and other extreme consequences of climate change. He characterizes the reforms to be made within the DOB as "root and branch," even going so far as to call it a "revolutionized agency."

Goals set to achieve that revolution entail 100 percent online, automated handling of numerous key procedures, an increase in low-risk self-certification, 100 percent of projects having a clear and transparent status, best-in-class turnaround times, and much more.

To hear how this will all come together and how the DOB will reach its goals, make sure to the join us the morning of Nov. 12. Save the date and look for your electronic invitation to land in your inbox soon.