Building activity up in Minto by $1 million over 2018 totals

MINTO – Although the total number of permits issued was down from 2018, the total value of building construction rose slightly here in 2019.

“We finished the year on a strong note,” said chief building official Terry Kuipers as he gave his December and 2019 year-end reports to council on Feb. 4.

“Numbers are down a touch from 2018 but value’s up almost a million bucks.”

The town’s building department issued 203 permits for construction activity valued at $37.4 million last year, compared to $36.5 million on 217 permits in 2018.

For December, 11 permits for construction worth almost $3.1 million were issued, up from nine permits and a construction value of about $1.9 million in 2018.

Multi-residential builds

Multi-family residential construction boosted the December numbers, with three permits issued for multi-family dwellings in January. No such permits were issued in January 2018.

Permits were issued for a total of 61 residential units worth an estimated $19.6 million in 2019. Of those, 27 units were created in Palmerston, 12 in Harriston, 10 in Clifford and 12 in rural areas.

Also in 2019, the department issued:

- 11 permits for commercial construction worth an estimated total of $2.1 million;

- three permits for industrial construction worth about $5.5 million; and

- 29 agricultural permits for building activity valued at $6.2 million.

Kuipers noted the 2019 construction value of $37.5 million was well above the municipality’s 10-year average of around $20.7 million.

“I was hoping to squeak out twice what our normal 10-year average is, but I just squeaked under it,” he commented.

“I read in the paper that our neighbouring municipalities are slowing down … We don’t see that,” noted deputy mayor Dave Turton, who chaired the meeting in Mayor George Bridge’s absence.

Kuipers replied that building activity is off to a quick start this year as well.

“January is strong so that’s going to be a good start,” he stated.

Council accepted the reports as information.