Decline in building permits puts Garrett in line with national trend
Sarah Moses
Cumberland Times-News
OAKLAND - Building permits in Garrett County are down for the year to date by almost 10 percent when compared to this time last year, a trend that has continued since the peak of building in 2004."I think it's following the national trend," Jim Torrington, chief of the county's permits and inspections division, told the county commissioners at their Tuesday meeting. "Though I've talked to some contractors who think they will be up."Commissioner Fred Holliday commented that each year there has been a decrease, with contractors saying there would be an increase.Torrington said the contractors have been keeping busy despite the downturn.The biggest decline in building permits for the first five months was in residential permits, with a drop of 16.3 percent in single-family homes, 33.3 percent in double-wides and 50 percent in mobile homes.Increases in duplex permits have occurred, with four permits issued as opposed to one by this time last year.Commercial and industrial properties are also on the rise, with 36 permits issued from January to May. This is 14 more than last year, and 17 more than in 2004, when overall building permits were at their highest.Despite the increases in commercial and industrial properties, like other permit areas, the average declared value is considerably less than previous years, with the average at $98,789, where it was $351,522 last year.The largest amount of the total value of the properties to be built remains at Deep Creek Lake, with 67 percent of the total $29,854,301 to be constructed. About half of the homes to be constructed in the county and a like amount of the total square footage will be at the lake. This puts both the percentage of value and permits higher at the lake than it has been in five years."Things have gone down considerably from where we were," John Nelson, director of planning and land development, said. "Hopefully, things will turn around."
Contact Sarah Moses at smoses@times-news.com.
Sarah Moses
Cumberland Times-News
OAKLAND - Building permits in Garrett County are down for the year to date by almost 10 percent when compared to this time last year, a trend that has continued since the peak of building in 2004."I think it's following the national trend," Jim Torrington, chief of the county's permits and inspections division, told the county commissioners at their Tuesday meeting. "Though I've talked to some contractors who think they will be up."Commissioner Fred Holliday commented that each year there has been a decrease, with contractors saying there would be an increase.Torrington said the contractors have been keeping busy despite the downturn.The biggest decline in building permits for the first five months was in residential permits, with a drop of 16.3 percent in single-family homes, 33.3 percent in double-wides and 50 percent in mobile homes.Increases in duplex permits have occurred, with four permits issued as opposed to one by this time last year.Commercial and industrial properties are also on the rise, with 36 permits issued from January to May. This is 14 more than last year, and 17 more than in 2004, when overall building permits were at their highest.Despite the increases in commercial and industrial properties, like other permit areas, the average declared value is considerably less than previous years, with the average at $98,789, where it was $351,522 last year.The largest amount of the total value of the properties to be built remains at Deep Creek Lake, with 67 percent of the total $29,854,301 to be constructed. About half of the homes to be constructed in the county and a like amount of the total square footage will be at the lake. This puts both the percentage of value and permits higher at the lake than it has been in five years."Things have gone down considerably from where we were," John Nelson, director of planning and land development, said. "Hopefully, things will turn around."
Contact Sarah Moses at smoses@times-news.com.
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