It wasn’t the banner year of 2022, but last year was still Brant County’s third highest construction year in the history of the area, totaling more than $200 million in projects.
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And, while residential housing starts dipped sharply in nearby Brantford, the county issued 383 permits for single-detached homes, townhouses, apartments and residential add-ons where homeowners are adding a new housing spot to their existing property.
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“There was a little slow-down,” said county building official Richard Weidhaas, “but we had a surge in our third and fourth quarters with a new condo and an apartment building that put our numbers back on track.”
Such projects are granted a single permit but provide a boost toward the target of new housing units expected by the Ontario government, which is pushing for 300 new homes in the county each year.
“It wasn’t a stellar year but we were a little over target for permit numbers and our new housing unit starts was above expectations,” said Weidhaas.
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The year-end number – 1,157 permits issued for work calculated to be worth about $201.9 million – was boosted substantially by a single permit for a new Tigercat manufacturing facility and office space on Consolidated Road, across the street from the company’s existing facility.
The 275,000 sq. ft. building, being erected by Vicano Construction, will have enormous crane bays, overhead crane systems and dozens of two-ton jib cranes.
“I think that was the biggest permit we’ve ever issued,” said Weidhaas.
Meanwhile, the year has begun smoothly and Weidhaas expects 2024 will be closed on the heels of last year.
“From what we’ve seen from the planning for new development here, it only takes two or three phases for us to hit our targets. I’m not worried, although we know it’s always a guesstimate. Anything in our field could happen – a supply break for the builders or a big mortgage change.
“But we see continued activity from Losani Homes, Liv Communities and the two builders at Paris Grand – Fernbrook and Crystal Homes – so with those and some average work in the industrial and commercial areas, 2024 looks very similar to last year.
@EXPSGamble
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