City of Hamilton surpasses important construction milestone amid pandemic
Published October 14, 2020 at 1:39 pm
The City of Hamilton announced Tuesday (Oct. 13), that it surpassed $1 billion worth of construction in 2020, which is considered a significant feat in a year dominated by a global pandemic.
The City of Hamilton announced Tuesday (Oct. 13), that it surpassed $1 billion worth of construction in 2020, which is considered a significant feat in a year dominated by a global pandemic.
The milestone represents 4,718 building projects in the residential, institutional, commercial and industrial sectors, according to a City press release, and is the 10th time in the last 11 years that Hamilton has reached it.
Numbers shared by the City note an increase in the number of residential project applications, particularly swimming pool enclosures, between January and August, where there was a 35 per cent increase over the same time last year.
Building permits submissions, in general, were up by 40 per cent over 2019.
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“In a year where municipalities across the country felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hamilton City staff quickly adapted to working remotely and providing alternative service delivery options,” the release said.
Applications for small residential projects like decks, pool enclosures, interior alterations, accessory structures, etc. increased by 23 per cent from June to September this year compared to last year, according to the release.
Total construction value, up to the end of September, is made up of 69 per cent residential, 11 per cent commercial, three per cent institutional, and 17 per cent industrial.
“Reaching the milestone of $1 billion worth of building permits issued so far in 2020, particularly in the midst of a world-wide economic retraction caused by a global pandemic, is a significant achievement that sends a strong message that the momentum in Hamilton is real and continues despite all the challenges we have faced this year,” said Mayor Fred Eisenberger in the release.
Hamilton’s General Manager of Planning and Economic Development, Jason Thorne, added: “The City of Hamilton had to respond very quickly to make sure that we were able to continue to support growth and development despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am very proud of our City staff, and thankful to our development community, for how quickly they adapted to new measures such as digital submissions and virtual meetings to keep development going in the city.”
In 2018, Hamilton saw $1.26 billion in construction, which is the second-highest annual total ever for the city.
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