Timeline

Assuming my condo association gets the loan; our back porch construction timeline should look a little something like this:

Mid September to October 1st, 2005
The loan is approved and the final bank paperwork gets signed off. We also sign the contract with our porch vendor and put down a 20% deposit.

October 1st, 2005
The porch vendor starts the multi-step demolition and construction permit process with DCAP (The Department of Construction and Permits for the City of Chicago). They would also come out and reinforce our current porches (for free might I add) so their condition does not further deteriorate while waiting for the permits to be granted.

February 14th, 2006
Assuming everything went smoothly---all of the drawings, blueprints and plans have been accepted from the porch vendor. The permits to demolish our old porches and construct new ones may be granted.

March 17th, 2006
Once again---assuming all goes well; construction on the porches may start and hopefully be completed before Easter.

What’s with the gaps of time? Why does it take so long? Well friends, let me give you a basic primer (as I understand it) for dealing with the bureaucracy that surrounds getting anything built in the City of Chicago.