Builders Cheer Opening of Permit Center

Builder Ricky Gelb still recalls the nightmare of having to obtain dozens of city permits for electrical, plumbing and fire safety work when he renovated a Woodland Hills office building last year.

Gelb spent thousands of dollars paying plumbers, electricians and other contractors to make about 50 trips to city offices to obtain the permits for the Ventura Boulevard project.

So Gelb is especially looking forward to the opening today of the renovated Van Nuys Construction Services Center, which has been redesigned to be more user-friendly.

“In the past, we have spent, on $1,000 electrical bids, another $1,000 paying the electrician for his time getting permits,” Gelb said. “It was a zoo.”

The $477,000 renovation doubles the size of the customer waiting area and provides a new counter for express service on multiple building permits, said Andrew Adelman, general manager of the Building and Safety Department.

“This permit center is a boon to the construction and building trades in the San Fernando Valley,” said Mayor Richard Riordan. “The center gives the San Fernando Valley access to important city services in a location that is convenient to the customer.”

Adelman said the Van Nuys office of the Building and Safety Department at 14425 Erwin St. serves about 70,000 customers annually, providing about 40,000 permits for building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical work for construction valued at $600 million.

“Before, it was almost like you were going into a dungeon,” Adelman said of the office. “We’re going to provide considerably better customer service.”

In addition to adding Fire Department permits to the office, Adelman hopes soon to include city planners in the office so customers can apply for zone changes and variances there.

All permit functions will be consolidated in a larger space in two years as part of the construction of a new civic center building in Van Nuys, said City Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who represents the area.

“The renovation of this facility is an important step in making the Van Nuys Civic Center the kind of government center the community needs,” Miscikowski said.