Prince George, B.C.- Building  and development permits in Prince George are up from the same month a year ago, and the year to date values are also showing an increase.

 

Fifty four permits were issued last month compared to 28 issued in March of 2009.  

 

The year to date permit numbers are more than twice the number issued during the same period a year ago. For the first quarter of 2010 the permit value is just shy of $22 million, compared to $12.1 million in the first quarter of 2009.  

 

The highlights of the March starts in Prince George are:

•        697 Quebec Street, Interior Renovations and Second Floor Addition, Commonwealth Medical Building, $ 525,000.00

•        1475 Edmonton Street, Interior Renovations to the Medical Imaging Centre, PGRH,$3,000,000.00

•        17 Single Family Dwellings, $ 4,111,257.00

•        2863 Ferry Avenue, to construct a 9 unit townhouse development, Hayer Homes Ltd

Commercial Development Permits:

•        2591 Vance Road, to construct a 837 m² commercial building, Blanleil Cranbrook Holdings Ltd

 

Canada Mortgage and Housing says new home construction in B.C. picked up during the first quarter as builders responded to increased homeownership demand. Foundations were poured for 5,337 new homes in B.C. during the first quarter of 2010, compared to 2,522

housing starts in the first quarter of 2009.

 

Single-detached construction rebounded with the most strength in urban British Columbia (centres with more than 10,000 people) during the first quarter of this year.

 

In the first three months of 2010, a total of 2,164 single-detached homes were started compared to just 628 units a year earlier. Multiple-family home starts were also strong in the first quarter, increasing 68 per cent from a year ago and totalling 3,173 new units started.

 

“In recent months, the new construction market has become considerably more attractive. Economic conditions are strengthening and a resurgent resale market will ensure that developers continue to build more homes this year than they did in 2009,” noted Carol

Frketich, CMHC BC Regional Economist.