Middle school rejection prepared you for construction approvals.

Remember that awkward moment in middle school when you worked up the nerve to ask someone to the dance only to get shot down? Brutal. Rejection stings.

Even middle school rejection is difficult; getting a yes isn't easy.

If you've ever tried to get a building project approved, you may know the same feeling.

Getting a shovel in the ground isn’t just a step in the process. It’s a marathon riddled with red tape, delays, and enough bureaucratic headaches to make you question your life choices. In fact, in 2021, regulations alone made up almost 24% of the cost of a new home.

More time. More money. More hoops to jump through. All for that golden “yes” that leads to an awkward groundbreaking with the rattle can gold shovels.'

So, what’s the fix? We’re not calling for an approval free-for-all. Regulations exist for a reason. But do they have to be this painful? Not necessarily.

If you’ve been following the 5 Forces, you might know that solving one challenge (like Approvability) can sometimes mean focusing on another force, like Transformability or Financeability.

Projects that include more transformative elements (like affordable housing initiatives under CA Senate Bill 35) can actually move through approvals faster.

The key? Early integration. Give your approval strategy the same attention as your space programming and geotechnical allowance. A project team that’s aligned from day one doesn’t just navigate approvals—it anticipates them.

The bottom line is our communities need good projects to thrive. And getting to ‘yes’ doesn’t have to feel like middle school heartbreak. Trust us—we’ve been there.