City of Red Deer building permit values were down in December, despite an overall increase in the number of permits issued.
Sixty-seven permits were issued, with a combined value of $4.2 million, compared with 59 permits issued in December 2018, worth $11.4 million.
The total value of permits issued in 2019 also dropped significantly when compared to 2018, despite a larger number of permits issued.
From January to December 2019, 1,074 building permits were issued, valued at $118.9 million, compared to 1,068 permits issued in 2018, valued at $233.8 million.
Notable permits for the month of December include construction of a new commercial building and asphalt work at 66th Street and 68th Avenue, valued at $900,000, and an interior renovation at First Alberta Place, 4911 51st St., worth nearly $600,000.
Red Deer County’s building permit numbers show it continues to thrive, despite the province’s economic slowdown.
The county issued $84.1 million in building permits last year. That is down from 2018, when $96.7 million in permits were issued, but there is a catch.
“The year 2018 was somewhat of an anomaly due to the Canada Winter Games,” said planning and development director Dave Dittrick.
“That event skewed the building permits figures higher — which demonstrates that 2019 was a very healthy year for county business despite the challenging economic picture in the province.”
In 2017, the county issued $59.7 million in building permits, and in 2016, permits totalled $77.5 million.
Last year, commercial, industrial and institutional permits were issued worth $49 million. Residential-related permits accounted for $35.1 million. Building permits are not required for farm buildings.
Dittrick said he is “very optimistic when I see these figures, as it shows the steady growth of the business community in Red Deer County.”
mamta.lulla@reddeeradvocate.com
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