2009 was a big year for building activity in Huron-Kinloss.
Chief Building Official Matt Farrell says 161 permits were issued in 2009 worth over 18.4 million dollars — compared to slightly more than 14 million in 2008.
He says even though the economy was not the best last year, a lot of people in the area still want to build new houses and took advantage of the lower building costs.
Farrell says about one third of the activity was new homes, particularly retirement properties and single family dwellings in the north end of the township bordering Kincardine.
He says in total there 54 new residential units built, 52 of which were houses, and the other two were duplexes.
2009 finished with just 10 building permits being issued in Huron-Kinloss, worth over 791 thousand dollars.
Farrell says construction is slow so far in January because of the winter season, but people are calling his office asking about possible permits for the spring.