The Jumanji of Work Permits

A visit to the DOB was needed again and this time it wasn't any prettier. I picked up my folder and it turns out that they decided to change the status of my plan review magically to "Assigned to Plan Examiner." Who yelled Jumanji? This has already been done and there's even a more detailed status page to prove it. So, I printed both of these pages out and went to the window to collect my folder (note that I was here at 7 AM again to be near the front of the line). Of course, this status confounded the poor window attendant and I had to argue my case. Reluctantly, she gave me my folder with the approved plans.

The next step is easy. You have to get them perforated with a little insignia that says "APPROVED NYC DOB" at a window where a ticket isn't required. Simple...until it's pointed out to you your plan examiner didn't sign the drawings. I really enjoy wasting my time at the DOB and dealing with morons, and this was just another day full of it. I had to hunt down my plan examiner and ask him to sign the plans. This took a while because signage in the DOB is like driving in Boston; you are gaurenteed to get lost and not find who you're actually looking for.

Once I pinned him down (I've got some sweet wrestling moves) and had him sign the plans, I went back and got the plans perforated. The last step for the day was to get them micro-fiched. By this time, it was near 10:30 and I decided to go back another day and finish up the work permit application. Enough frustration for one day.

APPROVED!

I've been diligently checking the DOB Building Information System daily to see what the status of my plan review is. Today I found out they were approved! Rock and roll! Now it's time to get some work permits!

If You Can't Beat 'Em, Do Work Somewhere Else...Part 2

Anu and Diana made progress through the week, but apparently, there is still a lot of work to be done and that's when I got the call. It's a Saturday project again with some painting (2nd coat) and finishing touches on Chandeliers, light switch dimmers, mirror hanging, etc. I think I've just become a handyman in my free time, but I'm not sure.

I was happy to help again, which after a bit of painting also involved renting a Zipcar to head to Ikea. The couch was necessary for the upcoming party and delivery time wouldn't get it there when it was needed. On the way we picked up a chandeleir for Diana, gas and a hooker (kidding on the hooker). We had a short 30 minutes at Ikea to get the targeted couch. Anu overdosed on the amount of stuff for low prices and I had to give her a tranqualizer (aka hot and fresh cinnamon buns) to get her out of the store so we could return the zipcar on time.

We squeezed everything into the Honda Element and I made a pocket for Anu in the backseat. Everything was looking great...and then we got lost in Jersey. I hate the Garden State Pkwy.

We found our way back and soon we had unloaded everything into the apartment. Of course, the couch needed construction because I was going to crash on it for the night. With the mirror hung, the couch together and the fresh coat of paint the place looks great. I'll be mounting the flatscreen TV for them next week which will be the finishing touch. To celebrate, we all went out for food and drink and brought along Christina.

Welcome to the Zoo

DOB = Zoo = Jumanji. That pretty much wraps up my experience....but a bit more detail is deserved.

I showed up this morning at 7 AM to claim my spot in line. Of course, there were 3 people ahead of me, all expeditors. One guy (Steve) was very nice and chatted with me a bit. He was impressed to find out that I was a homeowner filing the paperwork on my own and offered to look it over to make sure it was all right. He found 2 little mistakes (initials) but nothing that couldn't be fixed. After waiting 1.5 hours, I was in the maze. It started at pre-filing, an area of bullcrap where someone looks at the scope of work you are doing, your estimated costs and magically calculates how much you have to pay for filing your plans.

The slippery slope began here. The pre-filer didn't like my estimates and decided she needed to almost double them for plumbing and general construction. Crap. While this made it slightly more expensive, it meant that I had to go back to the office and change the diskette for the PC filing process. Leaving the DOB at this hour was like jumping out of the front of the line for tickets to your favorite rock band that you've been camping out overnight for. All this just because the city wants to suck more $ out of me.

I made the quick change on the amazing PC filing software (DOS is still cool, right?) and headed back into the mayhem of the filing room at 10 AM. It's like your typical government office where you need something. Take a ticket, wait for it to come up on one of the 10 windows.

The scene was not good. There were about 150 people there by the time I got there and 27 people ahead of me for the window I needed. I grabbed a ticket and thought "How long can it be?" Well, never doubt the inefficiency of government agencies. They had one (yes, one) older woman working on filing applications (aka Rosario). In the meantime, I checked with my buddy Steve to make sure I had everything in the right order. Another nice young lady helped me out too so that I wouldn't tick off Rosario and screw up the system for everyone else behind me.

After 4 hours of waiting (including an hour and a half lunch break for Rosario) it was finally my turn. I waited nervously, hoping that my paperwork was in the right order, my forms were filled out correctly and that the window attendant didn't think I pulled any funny business (I didn't look shady enough to be an expeditor and I didn't have their cool ID).

After a few "you shouldn't place the stickers here" and odd looks at the computer, my credit card and I got out with a payment of $160.60 for filing the plans (don't ask me how they got to that number, it's a magic Jumanji formula). I think that's cheaper then paying $2k for expeditor...but maybe my math is off.

Now I have to sit back and wait until the plans get approved....or rejected...but hopefully approved.

Architects are the Best Friends

I'm not really sure what I would have done without my good friend Anu's help. I really suck at using AutoCAD. I can get around and do what I need to do, but it takes me 3x as long as anyone who is skilled at it. Anu has been so helpful in making sure that these drawings are right and that I save money having the professional I hired to touch them up and stamp them. All in all, I couldn't have done it so easily without her help. Hopefully a few Saturday's at her office didn't kill her.

With that said, the drawings are done, printed and stamped. Take a look at them below :)




I met with my architect, David Cunningham, last night and transfered over the signed and sealed documents. Now the real adventure begins as I need to head down to the Department of Buildings to file all this. I've decided to make a bold move and do PC filing. Why bold? Well the DOB webpage says:

"PC filing is recommended for use only by experienced professionals."

To me, that translates to:

"If you're really scared of computers and have little common sense, you probably shouldn't use this program. In fact, you probably shouldn't be filng for a building permit. Pay someone else to do it."

And that's where the expensive expeditors come in. Wish me luck as I grapple with the DOB.

If You Can't Beat 'Em, Do Work Somewhere Else...

I'm in another holding pattern until the drawings are done, so I am itching to do some construction again. My friend Anu called me up to let me know she's getting a new roommate and they've agreed they want to repaint the apartment...but have never done anything like this before. I'm not sure if they really know what they are in for, but I'm happy to help as I know that 1)Anu was a huge help with the drawings 2)I'll need the help down the road and 3) what are friends for?

At 9 AM I was on the doorstep of 65 Bank St. (that's dedication for a Saturday Morning) with a backpack full of tools and painting supplies. I broght my killer tarps to use a drop cloths. You know you live in the west village when a single tarp covers your living room + more.



We worked through the day and most of the evening, finishing up most of the painting, but there is still a lot to be done. Good luck ladies!

Insurance and Stuff

Things have been moving forward slow and steady. My co-op board has been dragging its feet a bit, even though I'm on the board. I have been trying to get by with lower insurance requirements to save money and the hassle of dealing with State Farm any more then I have to. That didn't fly. Now, after a bit of waiting and money, I have $2M of personal liability insurance. Luckily, it only raised my insurance premium by $100/year. Not too shabby.

Recent vacations and a surge of work at the office have slowed me down a bit in getting this process done, but a few more signatures and I'm there. Hopefully we'll wrap it all up next week.