Beginning next Monday, December 28, the Department of Buildings will be transitioning additional work into their DOB Now platform.
Notably, General Construction filings (Alterations, NOT NEW BUILDINGS) will be required to be filed through DOB Now. Part and parcel to this requirement, Tenant Protection Plans and Site Safety Plans will also be filed through DOB Now. General Construction will now be categorized as either Construction, Chimney, Façade, or Enlargement work.
Foundation work, Earthwork, Support of Excavation and Protection & Mechanical Methods filings will also need to be filed through DOB Now beginning next Monday.
All filings in BIS will continue on that platform. RPO will honor proposals for work that we have already been retained for, even if we need to execute the work using the new platform.
The new platform has pros and cons, as would be expected. There are combinations and efficiencies that can happen, but the system often requires the inclusion of owners to execute administerial functions. Hopefully, some of these inefficiencies will be addressed; the DOB has indeed taken some industry feedback under consideration already, so we are hopeful for positive evolution. The one thing that can be counted on for certain is that there will continue to be constant change for the foreseeable future.
There is a Phase 2 planned for Early 2021 which will include New Buildings and filings that would result in an amended Certificate of Occupancy.
RPO will continue to provide updates for significant industry changes.