2014 a boom year for building construction in Council Bluffs

Building construction rose in Council Bluffs in 2014.

There were 30 permits issued for new building construction compared to 19 in 2013, according to the year-end permit numbers in the citys Building Division. And that added up to more than $20 million in additional commercial valuation with those projects, said Steve Carmichael, the citys chief building official.

The valuation for new commercial construction for 2014 totaled $265 million, compared to the total of $244 million the previous year.

Its very good, he said.

Included in the many projects for which permits were issued were two strip malls on West Broadway, a 10,099-square-foot-building in Metro Crossing Shopping Center, a new apartment and commercial building in the 100 block of West Broadway, a 6,000-square-foot building in the 900 block of South 17th Street and a 36,960-square-foot building in the 3100 block of Harry Langdon Boulevard.

Other projects for which city officials issued building permits included a 5,053-square-foot building for U-Haul Co. of Nebraska in the 700 block of 32nd Avenue, a well house at the MidAmerican Energy Company plant, a pump station on North 28th Street and various buildings along Bunge Avenue for Googles southern campus.

Theyre spread out all over the town, Carmichael said.

Besides new commercial construction, permits for alterations of current commercial buildings increased to 191 last year, compared to 171 in 2013.

Building permits issued for new residential construction dipped, but just slightly. According to city records, 67 single-family housing permits were issued last year compared to 70 in 2013.

I think part of the issue is that were running short on lots, Carmichael said. More lots would help out immensely, because now the numbers limit potential buyers to buy a lot.

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2014 a boom year for building construction in Council Bluffs