Meaford is celebrating a year of growth.
There were 347 building permits issued in 2009 with a construction value of just under 22 million dollars ($21,985,630.00).
That tops the 2008 total of 21.3 million dollars.
Director of Planning Rob Armstrong says while there 10 fewer permits issued in 2009, it was the type of projects that drove up the value.
Armstrong says there were some significant single-detached homes of very high value.
He says the other major residential projects included the Gates of Kent condo development and the next phase for the Maple Meadows retirement homes, while a big commercial project was the Knights’ of Meaford Home Building Centre.
Armstrong says the numbers are impressive considering the economy, and is happy Meaford was able to weather the recession on an even keel.
He also expects 2010 will be another good year, and predicts Meaford will either meet or exceed the 2009 building numbers.
Mayor Francis Richardson calls the 2009 numbers incredible.
And he gives most of the credit to Meaford’s attractiveness to retirees.
Richardson says not only is the community beautiful, but it’s a lot less expensive than some of its neighbours.
He says many people are figuring out that by driving another 20 minutes they can save a lot of money on a new build.