Crews have removed the front of the former Safeway location at the Medicine Hat Mall. Renovations are expected to last into thelate fall toward Safeway-parent company, Sobey's, plan to open a "FreshCo." brand location. --- News Photo Collin Gallant, June 21, 2022
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Multiple-unit housing and new commercial projects pushed building permits in Medicine Hat higher last month.
Figures from the city’s planning and development services department showed new single-family home permits remained even with eight in May compared to the same month one year earlier. That is two fewer for the first five months of the year compared to early 2021.
Smaller residential renovation permits also fell by about one third in the year-over-year analysis, landing at $1.97 million up to the end of May. Meanwhile new garages were fewer, but almost 80 per cent more expensive – the average estimated cost in 2022 is $28,300.
The gains show in four new duplex permits and seven new apartment units, moving the year-to-date figures past 2021, while tri-plex and apartment investment is 30 to 40 per cent higher than last year.
A new commercial building, worth $4.5 million, was also approved, bringing the total new commercial permit value to $8.8 million on three projects.
Overall, 79 permits in the month totalled $12.9 million, more than twice the value from the previous May on fewer permits.
For the year, the total estimated construction value to date stands at $41.1 million, up 20 per cent compared to May 31, 2021.
