Box 5, Folder 1, Document 32

Box 5, Folder 1, Document 32

March 18, 1969 CITY HALL ATLANTA, GA. 30303
Tel. 522-4463 Area Code 404

IVAN ALLEN, JR., MAYOR

CECIL A. ALEXANDER, Chairman
Housing Resources Committee

MALCOLM D. JONES
Housing Coordinator

MEMORANDUM

TO: Mr. Dan E. Sweat, Jr.
Director of Governmental Liaison

In connection with the recent attempt to resolve an apparent
impasse (requested by owner of the Chamberlain Apartments, a 30
unit 221 d(3) project, on Chamberlain Street in the Butler Street
Urban Renewal area) the following situation was brought to light.

The architect submitted complete and detailed plans to the
Building Department, including Heating and Ventilating, and obtained
a building permit. Subsequently, the Heating and Ventilating
Division declined to go along with the heating plans by insisting
on an additional heating duct in the kitchen area, for which the
logical location was a boxed-in channel near the ceiling, through
which gas pipes had already been installed, thus preventing the
addition of a heat duct. The Architect claims this was shown on
the original drawings submitted to the Building Department; and,
at time of issuance of the building permit, nothing was said about
the Heating and Ventilating plans being unsatisfactory. This was
confirmed by the Contractor and by representative of the Heating
and Ventilating Division,

It developed that this situation arose because the plans, when
initially submitted to the Building Department, and on which the
building permit was issued, were not shown to, or coordinated with,
the Heating and Ventilating Division. This appears to be a common
practice and the particular controversy in this instance could have
been easily avoided, if internal coordination between Divisions in
the Building Department had been accomplished.

An engineer has told me that he estimates that the lack of
internal lateral coordination within the Building Department on
plans submitted to it, costs the Heating and Ventilating contractors
alone approximately $1,000,000 a year.
Mr. Dan E. Sweat, Jr.
March 18, 1969
Page 2

I have also been advised that on occassions similar internal
coordination within the Building Department is not accomplished
with the Plumbing and Electrical Divisions on plans when initially
submitted. The explanation given for this is that frequently the
Plumbing and Electrical plans are not completely developed at the
time the building permits are applied for.

This is frequently true, however, it appears that examination
of the plans by the Heating and Ventilating, Plumbing and Electrical
Divisions at the time they are initially submitted and being studied
by the Buildng Division for issuance of building permits would cause
detection of most inadequancies and or major conflicts with interests
of other Divisions within the Building Department.

This is a contention I made repeatedly, when in the Building
Department, by specific recommendations on several occassions in
an effort to get this accomplished. Such procedure appears to me
to be basic and is practiced in many cities.

Recommend a positive procedure be established in the Building
Department that before building permits are issued, appropriate
plans be referred to the Heating and Ventilating and Air-Conditioning
Divisions, Plumbing Division and Electrical Division and State Fire
Marshall Representatives in the Building Department for examination
and coordination and that such coordination be accomplished and

recorded on such plans, or on attached routing card, showing dates
and individwis responsible.

This will cause a short initial delay in issuance of building
permits but will be well worth the time and effort expended by

reducing conflicts, confusion, exasperating delays and costly
changes later,

Sincerely,

o DB ofee - Rp ons

Malcolm D. Jones
Housing Coordinator

MDJ/mc