Construction industry in Park City faded as fall approached

Park City’s construction industry in August fell further behind the numbers recorded through the same period in 2010, the Building Department reported, more evidence that the industry could post another lackluster year.

According to the Building Department, approximately $26.9 million worth of construction had been permitted through the end of August. Through the same period in 2010, the figure sat at just less than $33.4 million.

The year-end numbers in 2010 showed a struggling industry, with the dollar figure falling sharply from the boom years prior to the recession. The industry was not expected to rebound significantly in 2011, but there were hopes that the construction trade could keep pace with the 2010 numbers and possibly surpass them.

The Building Department in August issued 107 permits valued at just less than $3.9 million combined. The dollar figure was down from the approximately $5 million worth of permits issued in July. It fell sharply from the little more than $9.4 million permitted in August 2010.

Alterations and additions to existing structures pushed up the August numbers. The category accounted for more than 80 percent of the overall dollar figure for the month.

Alterations and additions have been more important to the industry in the last few years than they typically have been. The category, though, normally does not add as much to the dollar figures since alterations and additions typically are not as expensive as the construction of new houses or buildings.

The Building Department in August issued one permit for a house, with the permit pegged at $390,000.

The number of electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits was mixed compared to the previous month and the previous August.

The department conducted an average of 124 inspections each day in August, up from the previous month but down significantly from the 226 conducted each day in August 2010.

The construction industry enjoyed booming business in the years prior to the onset of the recession, with record-breaking numbers repeatedly being posted. The recession, though, struck at a time when there was likely to be a construction slowdown anyway as the number of large development sites inside Park City dwindled.