Warrenton city officials were really hoping to see three more house construction permits issued in 2020 to bring the city’s total to a nice, even 100.
Despite the small disappointment of …
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Warrenton city officials were really hoping to see three more house construction permits issued in 2020 to bring the city’s total to a nice, even 100.
Despite the small disappointment of not hitting that “magic number,” leaders in Warrenton are enthusiastic to see the city continuing to exceed its prior year totals for new home starts. The mayor and board of aldermen received a report in January showing 97 permits had been issued for new home construction.
“It was a great year,” commented Ward 2 Alderman Gary Auch. “You wouldn’t have figured that, with the ongoing COVID and the price of lumber going up, that there would be as much activity as there was.”
City Building Commissioner Mike Cross, whose office interacts with builders and issues construction permits, called 2020 “an exceptional year for new house construction in the city.”
Cross told The Record that the 97 permit count only includes new, single-family houses. Counted separately, a total of 44 duplex and apartment units were also permitted in 2020.
Cross said new home construction was fairly steady throughout last year. A building permit report submitted by Cross to the aldermen shows a brief slowdown for new home permits in March 2020, but otherwise averages about eight new house permits per month. The houses receiving permits are typically about 1,100 to 1,800 square feet in size, Cross said.
“I think people are getting away from high density areas and the homes are more affordable,” Cross commented about why more people are moving to this area. “The city is working hard to keep the continued growth moving forward. I think the future looks great for the city.”
2020’s 97 new home permits were a step up from 2019, which saw 71 such permits issued in Warrenton. In 2018 the city issued 59 new home permits, and in 2017 there were 19.
Warrenton’s leaders have been encouraging new home development as a priority for the city. More “rooftops,” as the city often refers to them, makes the city more attractive to new retail stores and other businesses. That, in turn, brings new amenities and job opportunities for existing residents, and creates more sales tax revenue to pay for public services and street maintenance.
