Cleveland to streamline construction permitting

• The goal is to make building things in the city easier and faster for everyone — from the real estate developer erecting an office building or hotel downtown to the neighborhood resident adding a porch or garage to their home.

Driving the news: Bibb signed an executive order Thursday morning to communicate, he said, his commitment to implementing the overhaul and a sense of urgency.

What they're saying: He said that Cleveland should move at the speed of business and asserted that a more efficient permitting process would drive investment and lower construction costs.

• "We want to make the easy thing easier," Bibb said, "and always find a way to say 'yes.'"

State of play: Cleveland's Building and Housing Department will be the "front door" for all permits.

• The city will meet with developers and contractors before more complex projects to help them anticipate what's required.

What's next: Time is needed to get multiple city departments on the same page, a city spokesperson tells Axios, and changes are expected to be implemented in an "iterative fashion" beginning in early 2025.