For the third month in a row — construction values in Owen Sound were higher than the same month last year.
August and September housing stats show an increase in building activity in the city — more so in September than August where construction values sat at more than 5 million dollars.
That is up a million dollars from the year before.
However year to date figures for both months are way down as are new housing starts.
As of September, the year to date construction value sat at almost 14 million dollars.
That is down from more than 26 million to that point last year — and the number of housing starts is 11 — half of what they were in 2008.
Development Co ordinator Sandi Parks says the city likely won’t reach last year’s levels, but considering the economy, is doing pretty good.
She expects to see more building permits issued by the end of December as developers take advantage of the suspension of development fees this year.
In fact Parks says she has applications on her desk for ten more townhomes at the Green Ridge development — at the former OSCVI site.
That will bring the totals for new homes this year, higher than 2008.
Parks says they may also be issuing the building permit for the new 37 million dollar regional rec facility before the end of the year — but it depends on timing.