Dropping The Ball

So let me see if I’m getting this right.

In a February 11, 2004 press release the Honorable Richard M. Daley stated the following:

"By ensuring that only licensed developers can apply for building permits, this ordinance helps improve the quality of building construction,"

And the Residential Developer’s Fact Sheet dated March 15, 2006 also states:

“The Residential Real Estate Developer license must be obtained before owning, operating, conducting, managing, engaging in, maintaining, or carrying on the business of residential real estate developer. The Department of Planning and Development requires that licenses be obtained before residential development projects are submitted for approval to the Plan Commission or Community Development Commission.”

In short a developer is supposed to have their developer’s license in hand prior to applying for any type of permit from the Department of Construction and Permits (DCAP).

Yet somehow my developer doesn’t have this all important license but has still managed to secure construction permits for the 1512-1514 East Marquette development.

So from where I’m sitting DCAP seems to be grossly ignorant of the developer license process.

There’s no other way Mr. Knight could have secured the necessary building permits if DCAP dotted their I’s and crossed their T’s.

Then of course Mr. Knight may have his developer’s license. Though the last time I checked that wasn’t the case but he may have filed all of the paperwork and is on the straight and narrow.

If he’s not and DCAP issued a construction permit anyway, methinks that department just left the City of Chicago wide open for potential liability lawsuits.

I hope all of the work being done in the development is top quality and up to code. ‘Cause if someone is injured from non code compliant or shoddy work, the ensuing legal battle may make the city look really bad.

A big fat payout to grieving relatives may make them look even worse.

I’d hate to have to be the one to explain that to the Honorable Richard M. in the middle of his campaigning for yet another term.