Due to the downturn of the housing and financial markets, many developers are holding their construction projects in abeyance. Many of these projects are at the plan check stage and the time allowed by the code to obtain a building permit is running out. Since these projects were mostly designed under the previous building code, plan check expiration (an 18-month period) would require these projects to be redesigned in order to comply with the current code and would create additional development cost. To alleviate this hardship, Mayor Villaraigosa directed the Department of Building and Safety to develop an interim policy to extend the time to obtain a building permit for an additional 18 months. Further, time extension beyond this period may also be granted on a case by case basis.