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DBI announces 'Premise SF' permitting initiative, acting deputy for permit services and several high-value permits
Summary
The Department of Building Inspection announced "Premise SF," a mayoral initiative to overhaul permitting workflows and improve cross-department collaboration, and named Mary Wilkinson Church acting deputy director for permit services while the department recruits a permanent replacement.
Patrick O'Riordan, director of the Department of Building Inspection, told commissioners on Feb. 19, 2025, that Mayor Daniel Lurie has issued an executive directive launching "Premise SF," a cross-department initiative to develop and implement systemic changes intended to streamline permitting and improve cross-department collaboration.
"That collaboration is at the heart of this initiative, and I'm very supportive of its goals," O'Riordan said, describing the project as a multi-year, interdepartmental effort involving DBI, the Planning Department, the Office of Small Business, and the Permit Center. He said DBI will keep the commission informed as the effort moves forward.
O'Riordan announced a staffing change in permit services: Neville Pereira has left DBI and Mary Wilkinson Church, an architect who has served as DBI's permit services manager and formerly ran Milwaukee's building department operations, will serve as acting deputy director for permit services until a replacement is hired. The department has posted the deputy director job on the city's hiring website.
DBI staff also summarized recent high-value permit activity. Recent filings included proposals at 1123 Sutter Street (two filings reported for a 22-story residential project with market-rate and affordable units) and a tenant improvement at 560 Mission Street valued at $15 million. Issued or completed high-value permits noted by staff included a new seven-story residential building at 11 Frida Kahlo Way valued at $72.5 million (reported to include 128 affordable units and a community room), the completion of an eight-story building with 48 affordable condominiums at 400 China Basin Street (valued at $80 million), and a fourth-floor office tenant improvement at 345 Spear (valued at $30 million).
Staff framed these projects as contributing to housing and community assets. O'Riordan asked commissioners to help share the posted job announcement for the deputy director role through professional and social networks.
DBI also provided updates across related areas in the director's report, including ongoing permit-streamlining work and an upcoming process for bringing amendments to the existing building code into local code.
