Innisfail's new building permit totals increased slightly in 2012 over the previous year.
As of mid-December the year to date building totals had hit $15,390,257 this year, compared to $15,169,170 for 2011 at year's end.
ìYou could see a little bit of confidence in the economy,î said Craig Teal, director of planning and development, looking back over the year's building stats. ìI think what it is suggesting is that people are more comfortable.î
This year 71 new housing dwelling units were approved for construction. The 35 applications provided for 29 detached dwellings, seven row houses, two duplexes and 33 apartment units.
ìDevelopers are feeling a little more strength in the market,î he said. ìIt would be nice to see higher growth in our assessment.î
December permits added $163,000 to the yearly tally, including $161,000 for residential construction and $2,000 for minor commercial renovations.
Residential homes accounted for $8.1 million of building permits in 2012, with garages at $398,832, residential apartments at $3,129,000, commercial at $2,001,500 and industrial at $1,698,000.
January and November were the only months this year in which no new single-family dwellings were approved. Totals were up in the residential homes, apartments and commercial categories. Numbers were down slightly in the garage and industrial categories.
While institutional permits racked in $5,628,070 in 2011, including the new fire hall and public works building, there was no new construction in this category in 2012.
ìWe hope to see a little bit of growth every year,î he said. ìWe're starting to see some moderate increases and hopefully that will continue going into 2013.î
