Squamish saw a significant amount of construction in 2003 but statistics from Municipal Hall show 2004 was even busier.
The value of construction projects approved by the District of Squamish (DOS) in 2003 was $35,865,066. In 2004 the value shot up to $37,777,357.
In 2003 the strongest building sector was the single-family home market. A total of 66 new units were approved along with 32 improvement or addition projects.
Single-family home construction slowed and duplex projects surged in 2004. The value of duplex projects jumped from just over $6.1 million in 2003 to just over $11.1 million in 2004. Likewise, the value of new commercial building construction skyrocketed from $450,000 in 2003 to $3 million the next year.
The number of townhouse and apartment units built in each of the last two years was about the same but the value of the construction in 2004 outpaced the year before by about $2 million. The construction of 69 units in 2004 was $10,230,040.
The amount of money collected from the various fees charged by the DOS to builders increased by $17,577 with the district bringing in $255,307 in 2004 through a total of 188 building permits.
"Significant increases in building permit values and units in 2005, 2006 and beyond are expected," DOS planning manager Cameron Chalmers told The Chief.
According to Chalmers there are many proposals going through subdivision, zoning and development permit processes now and those projects are expected to begin construction in the next few years. Chalmers said a significant rise in the project submissions began in the middle of 2003 and carried through 2004.
