Sylvan Lake’s housing options continued to grow with another 116 new homes started last year and 116 units begun in multi-family buildings — duplexes, rowhouses, and apartments.
Residential construction led the way in building permit statistics accounting for over 81 per cent of the total value or $42.3 million, according to figures released by the town last month. Of that total, just over $15 million was for multi-family buildings, almost $24.2 million was for single family homes (112) and manufactured homes (4) and the balance included additions and renovations (12), detached garages and sheds (49 - $998,405), a garage suite, 28 decks, eight secondary (basement) suites, and 61 basement developments.
A permit for a 73 unit apartment building, with construction valued at over $8.6 million was the highest during the year.
The town processed 347 building permits of which 285 were for various residential projects.
The tally for all construction permitted in 2013 was $52,184,895.75 which was down just under four per cent from the previous year, but still higher than all other years since 2008.
Commercial activity accounted for 20 permits with total value of $3,558,438. There was no new construction. One permit was issued for an addition while the rest were for renovations, tenant improvements and changes in use.
The downtown area (13 permits) dominated accounting for 75 per cent of the category’s total with a tally of $2,673,638 million.
Heading the list of construction in the downtown area was a permit valued at $2 million issued to RiverCity Developments for exterior and interior renovation of Cobb’s Central Block.
The addition was for Big Moo, valued at $233,820.
Other commercial projects in the downtown core included a change in use to allow a restaurant (King Donair with patio) on Lakeshore Drive, two permits for new tenants in the medical building at the corner of 46th Street and 50th Avenue (Golden Horizons Wellness Centre - $29,008; Sylvan Lake Physical Therapy & Sports Injury Clinic - $155,800); the 68 seat Aja Sushi Restaurant ($133,760) in Varsity Mall, across from the medical building; demolition of the former Caribbean Flava on Lakeshore Drive between Bravo and Subway; Hockey Central Sports Lounge and Memorabilia ($50,000) in the building formerly occupied by Smugglers; Benjamin Pizza ($5,000) and New To You ($1,000) on 50th Street; renovations for Sylvan Lake News ($1,750) and Breeze Bookkeeping ($23,500) at the corner of 50A Street and 50A Avenue; and interior renovations at the building on the Sylvan Lake Harbour marina property ($25,000).
Outside of the downtown core, commercial permits were issued for changes in use for two businesses in the industrial area — Happy Bumz Happy Mumz ($10,000) and Joey’s Only ($105,600).
Three permits were issued for tenant improvements and changes in use in the east end of town. In Hewlett Park Landing a permit valued at $160,000 was issued for a pet food store in December. Across the street in Ryders Square, Liberty Tax Service received a permit valued at $77,600. And in the neighbourhood commercial area bounded by Hinshaw and Herder, Prairie Dawgs received a permit for tenant improvements valued at $189,600.
The other two commercial permits were for the plaza at the corner of Lakeway Landing and Memorial Trail — one for Hot Yoga Studio ($264,000) and the other to Sam Parmar for occupancy — Indian Flame & Pizza in the Winks store ($2,000).
Industrial construction, all of it in the town’s east end, accounted for just over $6 million and 16 permits. Three were for new construction — $3.57 million for a seven building mini storage complex (Lakeland Storage and RV Parking) and an industrial building on Charles Industrial Drive for Advantage Valve Maintenance Inc. valued at $1.554 million.
Ten permits were issued for tenant improvements, renovations or change of use and three for accessory buildings. Among those were permits for Garaj Mahal at 20 Cuendet Industrial Way and at 14 Thevenaz, Dirty Diesel Customs, Emergency Safety Systems Incorporated and RC Bio Solutions Ltd. all on Cuendet; Canadian Engineered Wood Products on Erickson Drive; Arashi Do and Arrow Excavating on Erickson Crescent; and Nabors Production Services on Schenk Industrial Road. Accessory buildings were permitted for Alta-Wide Builders Supplies Tim-BR Mart on Erickson Crescent, Telus on Industrial Drive (for a tower and building on the town’s municipal operations property), and a pre-fab office for Lakeland Storage.
There was one permit issued for institutional construction. This was for a prefab classroom addition at C. P. Blakely School, valued at $53,636.36.
Ten permits were issued during the year for demolitions and 15 were categorized ‘other’.
Sylvan Lake Building Permits - 2013 breakdown
Category - Value - Percentage
Residential - $42,336.736.39 - 81.2%
Commercial - $3,558,438.00 - 6.8%
Industrial - $6,055,485.00 - 11.6%
Institutional - $53,636.36 - 0.1%
Demolitions - $106,500.00 - 0.2%
Other - $64,100.00 - 0.1%
Total - $52,184,895.75 - 100%
Sylvan Lake Building Permits
Ten year comparison - 2004-13
Year - Building Permit Totals - Single Family Homes
2004 - $ 44,763,924.59 - 162
2005 - $ 85,951,296.40 - 242
2006 - $ 78,283,983.81 - 208
2007 - $125,386,934.54 - 259
2008 - $ 62,889,228.80 - 112
2009 - $ 41,617,795.67 -74
2010 - $ 47,383,952.10 - 91
2011 - $ 39,555,054.66 - 113
2012 - $ 54,267,105.21 - 94
2013 - $ 52,184,895.75 - 112