A couple big commercial projects helped drive the value of building permits issued by the City of Red Deer last month to $25.7 million — a 70 per cent increase over the $15.2 million in July 2010.
A mixed-use building being constructed by River City Developments Ltd. as part of its Elements @ Rivers Edge project at 5002 55th St. produced a $10.6-million permit, and the Skyway Professional Centre medical office building at 5156 43rd St. added another worth $4.7 million. These accounted for most of the $17.1 million in the commercial category last month, up from $2.7 million in July 2010. Residential construction added $8.3 million, up from $6 million a year earlier; and permits related to industrial work totalled $314,000, as compared with $220,000 last July. One permit was issued in the public category last month, with this valued at $40,000. That compares with $6.2 million in July 2010, when Ronald McDonald House was approved. For the year to date, $88.6 million in building permits have been issued by the city, including $45.2 million for residential construction. Last year at the same time the total was $69.7 million, with $43.4 million of this attributable to residential projects.