A worker repairs a down spout on a downtown building Tuesday. New figures from the city planning department show that worst-case scenarios for construction activity during the early part of the coronavirus pandemic haven't materialized, but figures are not much better than what was a very slow 2019.--NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
New single-family home construction is tracking slightly ahead of last year, much to the pleasant surprise of the city’s planning office.
But, officials stress, it’s not all good news in new development numbers published for the end of July.
“Last year was a really down year, but this year could have had the potential to be much, much worse,” said Kent Snyder, general manager of planning services at city hall.
“We’re definitely looking at it as very positive.”
Figures through July 31 from his office show that after a tense period this spring when the pandemic threw estimates into flux, the sector has rebound to at least levels seen in 2019.
Single-home building permits sit at 16, two more than in the first seven months of 2019.
Duplex permits were halved, but the difference is made up partly by an increase in townhome projects. Commercial numbers are steady, and overall the estimated value of projects (indicative of the scope of construction activity) are down, though private sector spending is on par year to year.
Home renovations – smaller projects that still require plumbing, electrical of structural inspections – are up 30 per cent.
“It does seem that there are a lot of renos going on, people improving their properties in general,” said Snyder. “There is a definite trend there.”
To the end of July, 258 permits were let for residential alterations with a formula suggesting a $4.78-million value. The same stretch in 2019 saw 291 permits but only $3.6 million attached.
Apartment reno projects doubled, though fewer new garages are being built.
The figures do not capture smaller “do-it-yourself” projects that don’t require permits.
In the single-family house sector, 16 new home permits were issued by the end of July, up from 14 at the same point last year. The figure only reached 20 for all of 2019, which was down from 47 the year before.
The recent $5-million permit for a carwash on bare land on Dunmore Road pushes new commercial spending above 2019 levels, though commercial renovations are lower by about 25 per cent.
Over all sectors the total project value to the end of July was $27.8 million, much lower than the $52-million cumulative total in mid 2019.
When fewer public sector projects are considered, the value of private sector projects is very close.
The 2019 construction season benefitted from $20 million in school construction, and $1.8 million more in “institutional” renovations.
That makes up most of the $23.3-million difference.
Special MPC meeting
Administrators are hoping to convene a special meeting of the municipal planning commission on Wednesday to keep the timeline to pass the updated Municipal Development Plan on track.
That long-term, overarching planning document was to be introduced last week, but the MPC meeting was cancelled when too few members appeared.
If taken up today, the document would move to first reading at the Sept. 8 council meeting, then to a public hearing and potential passage Oct. 5.
The plan suggests the city use a more sectoral approach, decide to centralize some amenities, remove population density targets while encouraging infill development, and adjust forecasts to consider changes to demographics, technology use and climate change.
