There is a construction boom in Sundre and while the town is not calling it a rebound over 2011 it is certainly calling it good news.
Erin O'Neill, the town's manager of planning and development, told town council on Nov. 19 that development values for the first 10 months of 2012 are triple what they were for the entire year of 2011.
“I wouldn't call it a rebound. I don't think 2011 was a bad year,” said O'Neill. “It (2012) is a year that shows we are attracting large-scale development. There is a strong residential component but it is mostly commercial that is driving this year.”
O'Neill said for the first 10 months of 2012 the town has processed 73 building permits with a development value of $9,852,700. That compares to 88 for all of 2011 with a total value of $3,245,400.
In 2012, three of the large-scale developments have been the $3.3-million apartment building on 6 St. S.W., the $575,000 tire shop on Main Ave. W. and the $3-million mixed-used apartment building on 3 St. S.W.
While the numbers are strong for 2012 they still lag behind figures for 2010. For the entire year the town processed 106 building permits with a total development value of $12,136,962.
In 2009, the town recorded 78 building permits having a total development value of $4,397,060.
