Busiest April in decade for Moncton

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Times & Transcript

Location: C2

Topics: Building Stats / Housing

It's starting to look like a hammer-and-nails kind of summer in the city. The City of Moncton issued more building permits in April than it has in any April in the past decade.

A total of 114 permits were issued, valued at $21.2 million, which means the total value of construction permits was nearly double compared to the same time last year.

That brings year-to-date totals to 242 building permits for a total of $36.9 million worth of building projects approved in 2012.

The increase was driven by 21 commercial and industrial permits worth $10.3 million, compared to $3.8 million worth in April 2011.

One development, the Mapleton Power Centre, accounts for much of that construction. Building 'B' at 79 Wyse St., a new street in the development named for one of Moncton's early merchant families, is worth $4.3 million. The new Moxie's restaurant under construction at 10 Wyse St. is a $1.6-million project.

Another of the big projects is a $2.5-million warehouse going up on DesBrisay Avenue, a new street in the expansion of the Moncton Industrial Park.

There were also 63 residential permits issued last month, an increase of 26 per cent from April 2011 when there were 50 residential permits. The total value of residential permits exceeded $9.9 million, well up over last April's $6.7 million.