The COVID-19 pandemic is hitting virtually all segments of the city. However, building permits are, so far, holding steady.
The city issued 41 building permits in March with an estimated value of $8.8 million. That compares to 37 permits issued in March 2019 worth $11 million.
The year-to-date building permits are also comparable with 97 permits worth an estimated $31.3 million issued to the end of March this year. During the first three months of 2019, 101 permits were issued with an estimated value of $101 million.
“We’ve all be agonizing what building is going to look like after four years of boom times in the city of Prince George,” said Coun. Garth Frizzell at city council Monday. “COVID-19 has struck and in other jurisdictions that has meant a complete halt in construction. Here in Prince George, here in British Columbia, that’s not the case. I’m pleased to see the numbers haven’t tanked, but it certainly is a change from what we had expected.”
Significant building permits issued in March (i.e. residential, commercial, industrial and institutional), and the estimated total construction value of each development are provided below. The construction values reflect the construction of the building/structure, and do not include the cost of any mechanical equipment.
Residential Development
- Nine new single family dwellings ($4,403,174);
- Four new mobile dwellings ($743,968); and
- One new triplex ($627,000).
- Commercial, Industrial and Institutional Development
Four commercial building alterations ($892,385);
- One new industrial building ($930,000); and
- Two institutional building alterations ($213,400).
The Department has approved the following Development Permit for the month of March:
- DP100717 – Construction of a commercial building.