One month into 2012 and $14.6 million in permits
It has been a typically quiet start to the year for the home-construction industry in Kamloops.
According to the city’s building-permit department, just four single-family permits were issued in January, matching the total from the previous year.
However, the overall permit value is up to start the year, in part due to strong numbers from the commercial and industrial sides of development, including the issuance of a permit for the new Sandman Signature Hotel in the downtown core
The city handed out $11.4 million in commercial permits in January, compared to $5.4 million in January of the previous year.
A total of $2.9 million in residential permits were issued in January.
Overall, the city handed out $14.6 million in permits for the month, compared to $9.2 million in January 2011.
Last year, city hall was busier than expected, issuing $162.5 million in building permits, which ended up being $40 million more than projected.
Much of the credit for the positive year was given to strong showing in commercial and industrial development.
As for 2012, officials are offering a conservative estimate — predicting the city will hit between $130 million and $150 million in permit value.
However, there are some big projects expected to land on the department’s desk, including permits for a Telus data centre, an Interior Health Authority development in North Kamloops and a new Marriott hotel in Aberdeen, at the site of the former Home Hardware store at Pacific Way and Rogers Way.
The city has only topped $200 million in permits once — in 2008. In that year, the city doled out $207 million worth of permits, which remains a record.
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