Commercial projects boost building permit values

Permits for $116.3 million worth of construction were taken out over 2013 in Prince George, according to a report from city hall.

Those numbers were the fourth highest seen in the past decade.

The biggest year was 2007, when the total reached $154 million.

The figure for 2013 is $125,645 lower than the amount reached during 2012.

However, commercial projects accounted for $55.6 million over 98 permits, the highest seen in the past 10 years, and industrial projects added up to $17 million on 13 permits, the second-highest, behind the $34.3 million seen last year.

In all, 366 permits were taken out for $40.1 million worth of residential construction, $2.6 million less than last year and the fourth highest in 10 years.

Broken down further, 91 permits for $24.9 million worth of new single family homes were issued, down from 116 permits for $29.1 million in 2012 but up from 101 permits for $24.5 million in 2011.

The best years in that regard was 2007, when 201 permits for $47.2 million were issued and 2006, when the count was 224 permits for $31.9 million.

The slowest category in 2013 was in institutional construction, which drew 10 permits for just $3.5 million, the lowest amount seen in the past 10 years, although the Wood Design and Innovation Centre was classified as a commercial project.

Significant projects for which building permits were taken out in 2013 included:

- The Wood Design and Innovation Centre at 487 George St., $17.9 million.

- The Lakeland Mills rebuild at 1325 Foley Cres., $13.8 million.

- A new Delta Hotel at 808 Civic Plaza, $9 million.

- A new Northern Toyota at 2833 Recreation Pl., $4 million.

- Renovations to the Real Canadian Superstore at 2155 Ferry Ave., $3.5 million.

- Renovations to floors 5-9 at Coast Inn of the North at 770 Brunswick St., $2.4 million.

Just 14 permits for $839,400 worth of work were taken out in December.