JSG DESIGN LLC

"Dear [Member Name Removed]: JSG Design was hired to provide an easy permit for decking replacement to repair the existing deck only. We billed you only for that scope of work. When our expediter went to City Hall of Chicago to apply for an easy permit for decking replacement, they discovered that there was an illegally installed oversized gate over 9 ft. height high on that property, which was done unfortunately without a permit. The Building Department give us two options: either cut the gate to the height allowed by the Zoning Department to the City of Chicago Building Code, or legalize the existing conditions by applying for a zoning variance. Although, we weren't hired to clear the building violation, we wanted to assist the owner with this issue without any additional charge. Many e-mail messages were sent to the Building Dept. regarding these building violations to try and resolve this problem, and communicated with the owner during this process. Delay with the permit process was created by the unexpected building code violation. Finally, when the violation was cleared and the permit for the decking replacement was issued, the City of Chicago permit fee were given by error. Our company is not responsible for City of Chicago mistakes. JSG Design billed the client for the scope of work as per our contract, and we didn't charge anything additional for the extra time related to clearing the building code violation. The Permit fee was charged by City of Chicago. We are not responsible for permit fees that are mis-calculated by City of Chicago. We provided the best service possible to try and resolve the issue with the code violation for the gate. Thank you, JSG Design"

"Originally I had signed a contract not with this client who had constant complaints , but with his father who is the property owner. I have a contract for architectural and permitting services for 2 porches located on one property and for a third porch located on another property. I received a building permit for 2 porch replacements. We were always prompt with the drawings and we responded to all of the clients e-mails and phone calls kindly and promptly. We always like to help people, and satisfy all of our customers. The permitting process took a little bit longer than usual because the owner didn't inform me that part of the building was built without a permit and the City of Chicago mandated the owner to tear down an illegally built addition. After we received corrections from the City of Chicago I prepared new drawing showing demolition plans without any additional charge to the client. Additionally, the owner had problems with a GC contractor that he had hired, so we couldn't upload the corrected drawings to the City for review immediately due the problems with the clients GC Contractor, when the drawings were ready. In the beginning the client had one GC Contractor. We had his licensing and business information on the permit application. Unfortunately after a few weeks, I received a phone call from the GC Contractor telling me that he did not want to work for the client anymore. The GC contractor had canceled the contract with him, and therefore I had to remove the GC Contractor from the permit application and I was waiting for the client again to find another GC contractor. (It took over three months for the client to find a new GC Contractor). I was also willing to obtain the building permit for his third porch and I have even finished drawings for third porch, but the client met with the City of Chicago Building Inspector and the Inspector told him to replace a fourth porch. The fourth porch was not on our contract, but the client expected me to do prepare porch plans for free in order to clear all his building violations. After a few conversations with the client, during which he threatened me physically using profanity, I decided to cancel the contract with this client. A written notice with a cashier's check for the amount of third porch price was sent to him. I had obtained building permits for two porches that the client is complaining about. The client had never communicated to me that he was unhappy with my service. Apparently the client was unhappy because I did not want to work with him as I had canceled our contract. The client had become very difficult to work with. The clients properties had been cited by the City of Chicago for more code violations. I returned the client his money so he could hire another architect to address his violation problems with the City of Chicago and I wished the client good luck."