PG building permit numbers off to a sizzling start

We are not even a third of the way through 2022 and already city building permit numbers are on a record pace.

So far this year, 37 building permits worth over 36-million dollars have been issued as of the end of February.

That’s a sharp rise in dollar value when compared to the first two months of last year when 58 permits were green-lit but were only worth 18-million.

Mayor Lyn Hall told MyPGNow.com being a hub city is working to their advantage.

“People are starting to realize that Prince George is the largest community in the centre of the province and servicing such a wide area, we are a hub city and service centre and that is a big part of what’s driving it as well, transportation corridors are really important to us.”

Strong job recovery is also going a long way with investors.

“We are seeing continued investor confidence in Prince George and it wasn’t that long ago that we were leading the province in the COVID economic restart. What’s happening is that it’s going to continue and I’ve talked to some economists that this (the construction boom) could go on for another three or four years,” added Hall.

A number of housing projects, especially on the multi-family side, are leading the charge.

“If you take a look at our multi-family (development), I can point out to Highway 16 and 97 intersection where there are three brand new apartment buildings – we are seeing construction up in Marleau and Southridge with multi-family units and we are also seeing a large multi-family unit on the corner of 17th Avenue and Massey Drive.”

“So, it’s those larger units and as they progress through construction they can come in and start to require additional building permits and I think those three examples are really indicative of what we are seeing from a multi-family and single-family residential,” said Hall.

As of February 28th, the city issued permits for a number of housing projects including:

 One (1) new single-family dwelling ($ 379,336);
 Two (2) new mobile dwellings ($ 335,008);
 Two (2) new multi-family buildings ($3,644,151); and
 Three (3) new duplex dwellings ($680,216).

Last year, the value of multi-family building permits reached an all-time high of 115-million dollars, a nearly 63% jump over the previous record of 70-million set in 2020.

The northern capital’s success to attract several high-profile events isn’t hurting momentum either.

“In 2015, we had the Canada Winter Games and we continue to have significant events occur here – the World Women’s Curling Championship is coming up (on Saturday) and it’s those kinds of things that give us the ability to showcase the city to people outside of Prince George and I think that resonates, I think that message is being sent out loud and clear,” added Hall.