The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-05
BUILDING PERMITS
SHOW REAL COST,
SPENCER'S BELIEF
City Inspector Says Big Jobs
Usually Have Estimate
Correctly Made

Figures presented by those who
would erect large structures are
usually correct" said j. E. Spencer,
city building inspector, Friday morn
ing, in commenting on the discussion
about building permits that took
place at the meeting of the Birming-
ham Real Estate beard Thursday.
Almost invariably the permit pre-
scented for a factory building, for in
stance, gives the figures as accepted
in a bid or prepared ty contractors
and other adopts. The cost of the
building as it appears on the permit
practically represents the full sum
involved"
Frank Butler of the real estate
firm, Butler Garrett, at the realtors
luncheon, stated 1t as his belief that
not much over two-thirds Of the cost
of a building appeared on the per-
nit The discussion developed the
statement from several present that
lower figures were presented be-
cause Of the belief that the tax of
ficials were guided, to some extent, in
their assessments on the figures the
Mr.. Spencer Friday declined to
comment on the tax phase Ct the
question, b.. sn'd Mr.. Butler was
very nearly correct regarding the
differentiation of permits for resi-
dences and smaller permits, includ-
ing Improvements and other minor
matters.
I'm the great majority of cases
said Mr.. Spencer. those taking out
permits and giving low figures be-
lieve their estimates more or less ac-
curate. 1t is the development of the
unforeseen that raises the amount
involved. A man will, in all good
what he believes to be $4,000 piece
of construction, and before he is
through will find that $1,000 is
needed. He might later, it is true,
decide on less expensive figures, or
there may be a price change in ma :
terials. 1t is hard to be exactly
right. The same contractor, using
identical plans and a crew of men
who have worked for him long time
may build two houses exactly alike
and find when he is through that
one cost $500 more than the other.
1t is not inexplicable: Weather may
delay work. costs change. men be
hard to find. If any man could know
exactly just what the buildings he
erects are going to cost he could
make great fortune.
cites Cost of Permits.
Building permits cost one-eighth
of one per cent plus 81, of the amount
noted on the permit. This may have
some influence in the matter, Mr..
Spencer said, but the sum is really
small. In instances where a bid
awarded job is not involved the sum
most probably is, say, three-fourths
/ #
The Birmingham Realtors have ap-
pointed committee of which Mr..
Butler is chairman and Realtors Nc
Connell and Chichester are members
to make Il report on the adv1sabillty
of petitioning the city to make flat
rate for building permits, no matter
what sum is involved. in order that
! Birmingham may be correctly ac-
credited with the financial showing
of its building development.
O o. O.
| Resolutions On Civic Center.
In regard to the new city hall and
court house subject the realtors have
passed the following resolutions:
"Whereas. the Birmingham Real
Estate board has heretofore and does
now unqualifiedly approve the idea
and plan of civic center at Capital
park, and.
Whereas, the Birmingham Real
Estate board wishes to take notice of
prevalent rumors of an abandonment
| of this plan by the selection of an
| other site for a new court house and
| city hall elsewhere, these rumors cen
tering definitely on block 35, this
| being the block bounded by Sixth
and Seventh avenues, north, and
Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets
| therefore,
BE it resolved that the Birming
| ham Real Estate board does EN-
phatically enter it's protest agains,
such action by the county and city
authorities.
BE it further resolved. that the
committee on public enterprise OF
this board be instructed to take
whatever steps may be deemed adj
visable to make this protest effec-
/ Ai,.o