While Alberta’s fortunes might currently be on the downturn because of a slump in oil prices, construction starts continue to be strong in Airdrie, according to Kent Rupert, team leader of Airdrie Economic Development.
“I think part of it is that a lot of this has been planned over the last few years and so it’s still sort of implementing and coming to fruition,” he said. “Even with the downturn, (these projects) are on the books so they are moving forward with new development and new businesses. Also, I think Airdrie continues to prove itself as a good place to do business.
“In this time, people are always looking for savings so they’ll look at different jurisdictions where they can save money, whether it’s through no business tax or lower tax rates or that type of thing.”
Major construction in Airdrie includes a new firehall in Williamstown on Veterans Boulevard, which is well underway at an estimated cost of $3.9 million, and new schools in King’s Heights and Coopers Crossing at an estimated combined cost of $21.5 million.
Other projects include additional bays in strip malls in King’s Heights, Kingsview Market and The Village, as well as two commercial buildings in Gateway and a new Save-On-Foods grocery store in King’s Heights.
According to Rupert, 51 new commercial/industrial businesses opened in Airdrie in 2015. An additional 300 home-based businesses opened during the same year. Combined, these new businesses created 399 new full and part-time jobs in the community.
“Business licenses are up eight per cent from 3,325 in 2014 to 3,584 in 2015,” Rupert said.
A total of 247 commercial and industrial permits were issued in 2015. This is 32 less than were issued in 2014.
The total construction value of commercial/industrial properties in 2015 was $71 million down from $76 million in 2014, suggesting the economy is having some impact on development.
Residential development continues in Airdrie, although residential permits did decline slightly from 1,500 in 2014 to 1,419 in 2015.
“In 2015, more diversity in housing choice was offered to Airdrie buyers as homebuilders chose to build less single-family homes and more semi-detached homes,” Building Inspectors Team Leader Pertti Harkonen said. “The residential construction value was down by $1 million.”
Of the 1,419 permits issued in 2015, 520 were for single-detached homes, 600 were for semi-detached homes and the remaining 299 were for low- and medium-density apartments.
More construction statistics for 2015 are available online at airdrie.ca
