Construction activity in Minto is down by just under $7 million in 2013.
A year-end report presented by Chief Building Official Terry Kuipers at the Jan. 14 council meeting indicates the town issued 154 building permits for construction activity valued at $15.4 million last year. In 2012, 199 permits were issued for construction valued at $22.5 million.
A decrease in institutional construction activity accounted for most of the difference. In 2013, only two institutional permits were issued for construction valued at a total of $705,000. In 2012, 11 permits were issued for institutional construction valued at just under $7.5 million.
Kuipers told council the new Wellington OPP building at Teviotdale and the Minto Ag farm equipment dealership on Line 8, valued at about $6 million and $2 million respectively made the difference in the institutional numbers. Permits for those buildings were issued in 2012.
Despite the drop, 2013 construction values were slightly ahead of the 10-year average and the fourth highest in the past decade.
Construction values in 2012 were the highest in the past 10 years.
“So we’re still looking good,” said Kuipers.
“The non-residential side of things was pretty active last year,” said Kuipers, citing the expansion of the Harriston Fire Station, building additions at Leslie Motors and Gray’s Auction Services in Harriston and extensive renovations at the Harriston Tim Hortons location as examples of non-residential building in the past year.
Councillor Ron Elliott asked Kuipers about the status of a renovation project at the former Palmer Hotel building on Palmerston’s Main Street.
Kuipers replied that all permits for the project are in place and work is underway. However, he said “I haven’t nailed down, or even talked to the owner about, an actual finish date.
“It’s good to see some action,” he noted.
