Permit values remain strong

BY BRENT FOX

bfox@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

Building activity was brisk in the municipality and at least two of the towns last month.

Commercial projects and single-family housing starts were factors in the county figures, while industrial and single-unit housing put the Shiretown’s statistics over the top.

Community Development department statistics show that building permit values in the municipality topped $16,814,690 for a fiscal year-to-date tally of $28,736,130. This is compared to $8,936,383 and $24,361,121 respectively for the same periods last year.

The department issued 18 permits last month for construction of single-family houses for a fiscal year-to-date total of 50; no duplexes, for a total of 10; three apartments, for seven; two mini-home placements, for seven; for residential tallies of 23 and 74 units.

During the same periods in 2006 the department had issued 11 and 42 single units; two and four duplexes; two and 26 apartments; three and five mini homes; for total residential unit counts of 18 and 77.

Last month the department approved 18 plans and 43 lots for respective fiscal year-to-date tallies of 54 and 112.

During the same periods last year, the department approved 13 and 34 plans and 16 and 71 lots.

Commercial total

Commercial projects accounted for $8,617,800, while single-unit housing values totaled $4,918,720. Agriculture brought in $2,105,920.

Dist. 11 – New Minas – was the top district with $8,731,420, mostly commercial. Dist. 4 – north of the Coldbrook-Cambridge-Waterville corridor – was second with $2,413,420, mostly single-unit housing and agricultural projects.

Major industrial, commercial and institutional projects for which the department issued permits last month included: an $8,598,800 commercial structure in New Minas; a $1,136,800 agricultural structure in Welsford; a $518,400 agricultural structure in Lower Canard; an $86,400 agricultural structure in Sheffield Mills; a $72,000 agricultural structure in Lower Canard; a $72,000 agricultural structure in Lakeville; a $56,000 agricultural structure in Blue Mountain; a $51,200 agricultural structure at Brow of the Mountain; a $47,600 institutional structure in South Berwick; a $43,200 agricultural structure in Hall’s Harbour; a $15,600 institutional structure in South Berwick; a $10,000 agricultural structure in Billtown; a $10,000 agricultural renovation in Lakeville; a $10,000 commercial renovation in Cambridge; and a $9,600 agricultural structure in lower Wolfville.

The $16.8 million in values for June were the largest in at least seven years; last year’s $8.9 million had been the highest. The lowest was the approximately $4.7 million in June 2003.

Last month’s $28.7 million fiscal year-to-date total was also the largest in at least seven years. The $26 million of 2006 had been the top, with the $15 million of 2003 being the lowest.

Shiretown did well

The Shiretown saw a permit value of $3,311,380 last month for a fiscal year-to-date total of $4,212,340. This is compared to the respective totals of $187,060 and $1,655,910 for the same periods in 2007.

Industrial projects accounted for $1,875,500 while single-family housing values stood at $1,169,680, and commercial $217,600.

The Planning and Development department issued four permits for single-family housing construction last month for a total of eight, the same figures for total residential units.

During the same periods last year the figures were one and four units and one and 10, with six duplexes.

Major industrial, commercial and institutional projects for which the department issued permits include: a $1,875,500 industrial structure and a $217,600 commercial structure.

Berwick’s permit values for June reached $335,340 for a fiscal year-to-date tally of $2,040,460. This is compared to $38,000 and $215,540 for the same periods last year.

The town issued two permits for duplex construction last month for a fiscal year-to-date tally of two duplexes and a total of three residences.

Duplex housing projects accounted for $265,520 while institutional projects came in at $56,000.