PENHOLD – The Town of Penhold issued $15.2 million in building permits in 2017.
It appears to be a bumper year when compared to the 2016 dollar figure, which saw a total of $5.1 million in building permits issued.
But it’s not Penhold’s best year, notes Mayor Mike Yargeau.
"If you compare us to four years ago, we’re lower,” Yargeau said, noting that the numbers slowed down with the economy.
For instance, in November of 2014 that year’s total stood at more than $33 million. Of that, more than $16 million was for single-family homes alone. The year before, building permits were worth slightly more than $19 million.
"We’re happy with the way it’s going up, but it’s been better,” Yargeau said.
But 2017 did have some good news -- more growth than 2016, and some bigger value projects came online, Yargeau notes.
While $1.2 million of the $15.2 million in permits is accounted for by portables at the school, about $3 million of permits was for commercial buildings.
"We did have a lot of new businesses as well,” Yargeau said.
Eighteen permits were issued for single-family homes, worth $4.4 million. One multi-family permit was issued, worth $560,000, and one manufactured home permit was worth just over $100,000.
House additions, garages and decks account for $805,700 of the permit total. Institutional permits -- which would include the portables -- were worth $6.3 million.
"We’re certainly doing well. It shows how attractive Penhold is as a growing community, with our proximity to Red Deer and our proximity to Highway 2,” Yargeau said. He said it’s important that the number went up, something taxpayers, developers and businesses are looking for.
There are tentative plans in place to try and restart some kind of formal economic development activity, Yargeau said. Discussions are in early stages with business owners, and a meeting was recently held with local business owners, town staff and some councillors about developing a new economic development strategy.
"It was just sort of a first meeting, so we don’t really have anything concrete yet,” Yargeau said.
The mayor said there was an economic development committee years ago, but it went by the wayside.
Mayor Mike Yargeau
"We're certainly doing well. It shows how attractive Penhold is as a growing community, with our proximity to Red Deer and our proximity to Highway 2."
