2016 was another strong year for construction activity in Minto.
Chief building official Terry Kuipers told council on Jan. 10 the $21.3 million total construction value of 2016 building permits was the second highest in the past 10 years, just behind 2015, when the value of construction in the municipality was just over $23 million.
Last year’s numbers were also tied with three other years for the largest number of permits issued, at 205.
Kuipers noted December 2016 was “an ironically busy month considering the weather.” With 12 permits issued for construction valued at $2.3 million, he said, “It was a very good December.”
Three multi-residential units went up during the month, including a semi-detached home, a triplex and a fourplex. A new day care facility in Palmerston resulted in $1.8 million worth of institutional construction during the month.
While the past two years have seen considerable construction activity in the town, Kuipers pointed out 2015 was heavy on agricultural and institutional projects, while 2016 “was a residential building year.”
The CBO pointed out the town issued 49 permits for various types of residential construction, last year, “which we had never seen before.”
In 2015 the town issued only 39 residential permits and in 2014 just 26.
Of the dwelling units created in 2016, 21 were in Palmerston, 10 were in Clifford, nine in Harriston and nine in the rural area.
Palmerston’s numbers were buoyed by the construction of two triplexes, one fourplex and a sixplex, in addition to the five single family dwellings built in the community.
“It’s interesting when I looked at Clifford the last two years; it has actually outpaced Harriston,” said Mayor George Bridge.
In 2015, 16 residential units were created in Palmerston, nine in Clifford, five in Harriston and five in the rural areas.
The rural figures contrast with 2014, when 12 permits were issued for residential buildings outside the three urban areas, while only eight dwelling units were created in Palmerston, four in Harriston and two in Clifford.
Kuipers explained that while 2014 was a big year for rural construction, the town’s two rural subdivisions are “pretty well filled up.”
Kuipers predicted, “I’m not expecting a big boom out in the country anytime soon.”
Bridge said the figures represented good News for the municipality.
“Certainly you’re putting a smile on the treasurer’s face to see these numbers come in. Now we just have to get MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) to put them on the rolls and we can get the taxes for them.”
Asked by Bridge about projections for 2017, Kuipers said, “It’s looking good. I’m getting lots of inquiries at this point and there’s some good projects.”
