Building boom in Kalispell: Commercial permits, construction values increase during 2005

By JOHN STANG

The Daily Inter Lake

Kalispell saw booms in commercial buildings and in total value of new construction during 2005.

The overall number of building permits remained somewhat steady, from 530 in 2004 to 524 in 2005, according to city of Kalispell figures.

But the total value of newly constructed buildings in Kalispell grew from $85.5 million in 2004 to $104.5 million in 2005, the same figures show.

The city issued 36 permits for $37.5 million worth of commercial construction in 2004, leaping to 102 permits for $63.8 million worth in 2005. Those figures include Costco and Glacier High School, said Craig Kerzman, city building official.

Spurts in retail construction often occur after spurts in home construction, he said.

Meanwhile, new single-family homes increased slightly from 2004 to 2005, while the construction of new multiple-family buildings dropped significantly.

Kerzman said that construction of multiple-family units often ebbs and flows with the vacancy rates of those structures.

The city's figures offer the following breakdowns:

. Number of single-family house permits - 198 in 2004, worth $23.1 million; 219 in 2005, worth $29.1 million.

. Number of duplex permits - 23 in 2004, worth $2.7 million; 13 in 2005, worth $1.9 million .

. Number of townhouse permits - 133 in 2004, worth $11.1 million; 76 in 2005, worth $7.8 million.

. Number of multiple-family dwelling permits - 18 in 2004, worth $8.2 million; six in 2005, worth $2.1 million.