Remember when you could just walk into the city building department without an appointment?

Back around 2010, I was working on a small adaptive reuse project for a storefront on Michigan Avenue. I'd just show up at the old Coleman A. Young building, grab a number, and wait to talk to a plan reviewer in person. You could ask three questions, get a quick sketch approved on the spot, and be out in an hour. Now, everything is through that online portal, Accela. It took me six weeks just to get a permit for a simple facade sign last year because of the digital back-and-forth. I get why they did it, for tracking and speed, but you lose that face-to-face chat where you could explain a tricky detail. Does anyone else miss being able to just go down there and hash things out in person?

3 comments

3 Comments

rosebarnes4d ago

Honestly, the worst part is how the online system killed the unofficial 'hallway advice' you'd get from other architects in line.

jordan_webb4d ago

Yeah, it's the little stuff you lose. I used to get a quick sanity check on a detail or hear about a new inspector's pet peeve. Now it's just you and a loading screen.

rowanharris4d ago

Forget the old hallway advice, the real loss is that quiet moment of shared frustration in line that made the whole job feel less lonely.