A building boom of sorts is gaining ground in Stettler.
Halfway through this year, the town has issued building permits totalling $13,628,419, well ahead of the same point last year, when permits totalled $4,145,793.
“We are down in residential, but up in industrial and institutional, significantly,” said Leann Graham, Stettler’s planning and development officer.
“Hopefully, with the increase in commercial, industrial and institutional, we will see an increase in residential.”
At this point, building activity appears to be on pace to break last year’s total of $16,140,927.
While the town has recorded just two new housing units under residential that totalled $691,500, that amount doesn’t include $8,675,760 for the Points West seniors’ project that covers the full total under institutional.
The new seniors’ facility will include 88 supportive-living units and 16 independent suites on 70 Street at the corner of 44 Avenue. It’s slated to be completed in May 2013.
After 11 new housing units were recorded last year, more residential development has opened up, as the town works with a developer for a 12-unit mobile home park on 43 Street at 50 Avenue.
For the first half of this year, the town of Stettler has permits for commercial that total $2,364,459 and $1,896,700 for industrial.
Valued at $1,357,359 as the biggest commercial project, Red Deer Co-op is building a convenience store, gas bar and car wash on Highway 12 at the corner of 62 Street, with plans to open in October, Graham said.
Other commercial projects planned for this year include renovations to John’s Clothing, Sobeys and Performance Fitness. Two other commercial projects have also been proposed, with a Lube-X automotive service downtown on Main Street at the northwest corner of 47 Avenue.
Earlier this year, council approved a development permit for the Esso station on 47 Avenue at 61 Street to expand the convenience store and build a liquor store, though Graham said the project hasn’t progressed further.
Industrial development includes Stettler Oil and Gas for $1,144,000, ENR Distribution for $673,500 and a minor addition to Tak Oilfield Sales and Services.
Last year, building permits included $7,683,334 for industrial, $5,217,905 for commercial, $3,157, 075 for residential and $82,613 for institutional.
In 2010, the town recorded building of just $6,868,880, with $4,692,531 for residential, $1,238,259 for institutional, $631,080 for industrial and $307,010 for commercial.