Single family home construction continues to be the big driver of construction activity in North Bay.
The city recorded $84.3 million in across-the-board construction values last year, a decline from the $92.4 million posted in 2009, but still the fourth best in North Bay's history. Residential construction carried the year at $34.5 million.
“We projected 55 home starts for 2010 and we exceeded that in ending up at 92 single family dwellings,” said Shawn Killins, the city's chief building official. “It's remarkable to think we went from 78 in 2009 to 92 in 2010 given the downturn in single family dwelling (construction) across the province.”
The strength, diversity and wealth generated from North Bay's economy has really been reflected in home construction. Between 2000 and 2010, North Bay recorded 768 new home starts, including an historic high of 110 posted in 2005.
A popular places of the city for new homes is the Airport Hill area with activity spreading to the Ferris area in the south end of town through a mix of subdivision development and single lots.
Kenalex Homebuilders continue to do work on Airport Hill with their upscale 10-lot Francis Ridge subdivision overlooking the city.
The builders are well into their fourth phase on Stone Manor Drive with only about a half dozen lots left in their 148-lot subdivision off Airport Road. The homes are between 1,700 and 2,600 square-feet with prices north of $400,000.
Secretary-treasurer Ken Jackson attributes the continued surge in local homebuilding to new arrivals in the city and move-up buyers.
“Canadore College and Nipissing University are big motivators with new staff moving into the city, and the military is still big in North Bay.”
Kenalex is building more economically-priced homes at their Trillium Woods subdivision on Booth Road. Ground has been broken on the first phase of 28 lots.
Three model homes have been built with plans to start servicing a second phase of 30 lots in an overall development that could grow to 95 lots.
The majority of these homes will be between 1,200 and 1,400-square-foot and will be priced in the $260,000 to $400,000 range.
Killins said there are no real barometers for 2011, but all the builders say it could quite likely be a similar year to 2010.
With the potential of interest rates going up this year, Killins said, “I think a lot of people are jumping off the fence and having their house built for them.”
Retirees are also investing in single family homes, especially in the Airport Hill area, because there isn't a true retirement community in North Bay.
Killins said there's been very little multi-residential construction, but one 28-unit apartment proposal near Seymour Street remains on the books.
Commercial construction accounted for $21.4 million last year, with a number of projects including a $2.5-million KIA dealership and a $4-million Good Life fitness centre.
On the city's north end retail strip, land developer and prominent businessman Paul Orsi is building Cartier Plaza, a $3-million commercial project, and completing another $3-million strip mall at Airport and O'Brien.
Institutional spending accounted for $20.5 million in 2010, the bulk of it toward the final construction of the North Bay Regional Health Centre along with additional expansion work at Cassellholme Home for the Aged on Olive Streets.
One major development that finished in 2010 was the Castle Arms Non-Profit Seniors Apartments, a 55-unit facility built at the corner of Cassells and Olive Street.
On the industrial side, only $4.9 million was recorded with nothing large on the radar for 2011, said Killins.
Minesteel Fabricators on Highway 11 North built a large addition, and Miller Technology is renovating the former Stowe Woodward plant on Eloy Street to consolidate all their office and shop operatons.
“The industrial stuff seems to be chugging along at a constant rate,” said Killins.
Next year, budget-wise, the city is projecting $65 million in construction, beginning with a recent application by the Ontario Provincial Police to build a $9-million forensic science and regional command post. The two buildings will a combined 36,000-square-feet.
A new $5-million St. Hubert's elementary school will be breaking ground this spring and a $5-million YES Employment Services building is under construction on Main Street in the downtown.
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