Permits for $116.4 million worth of construction and renovations were taken out at city hall during 2012 - representing a marked increase from the year before and amounting to the fifth highest total in the last 22 years.
There have been better years. As recently as 2010, the figure was $131.2 million before dropping to $98 million in 2011. The best year on record was 2007 at $154 million before declining to $115.7 million in 2008 and then $67.7 million in 2009 as the recession took hold.
The second and third best years were 1992 and 1993 at $138.4 million and $138.8 million respectively, aided largely by construction of UNBC and $50 million worth of residential work in each of those years.
The figures do not account for inflation.
Looking at 2012, new industrial led the way at $33.9 million for seven projects.
That was followed by new single-family homes at $29.1 million for 116 permits. In 2011, the figure was $24.5 million for 101 permits and in 2010 it was $28.9 million for 121 permits.
In all, 573 permits were issued in 2012, well below the average of 800 per year since 1990.
For December specifically, 27 permits for $6.3 million worth of work were issued, compared to 26 permits for $2.1 million over the same month in 2011 and 26 permits for $1.6 million over December 2010.
Last month's total was led by the new $4-million Wajax facility at 4620 Pacific St. A permit for a new office building at 2977 Ferry Avenue, worth $900,000, was also taken out as were five permits for $1 million worth of new single-family homes.
