Sault Ste. Marie is headed for a record construction year in 2022.
November, however, was a less-than-remarkable month.
In fact, November was so unremarkable that 96 per cent of the dollar value of last month's new-construction building permits will be spent on a single residential lot on Mulberry Street near Sault Area Hospital.
November isn't a great month for building permits, but November, 2022 was worse than usual, according to city building statistics.
There were no new industrial, commercial or institutional projects.
The only new builds for which permits were issued in November were residential: a $30,000 factory-built row house at 1022 Fourth Line East and an $800,000 model home on Mulberry Street in Saldan's Fox Run Subdivision.
Mulberry Street is off Third Line and Foxborough Trail, near Sault Area Hospital.
The new residence at 35 Mulberry is described as a two-storey single-family dwelling with an attached garage and deck.
Here's how Saldan's website describes homes being built there:
- beautiful modern two-storey homes include grand foyers leading to bright and open-concept layouts
- main level has nine-foot ceilings
- custom kitchen and vanities with solid surface countertops throughout
- sun deck included off the back of the homes along with attached double car garages off the side
- finished main floor laundry
- bedrooms located on the eight-foot upper level allow privacy and comfort
- master bedroom includes a walk-in closet and ensuite with fully tiled shower
- rough-ins included for future finishing in basement and features large above-grade windows allowing maximum natural lighting
But overall, 2022 has been a banner year for the construction sector.
Last month, SooToday reported we'd already chalked up $252.1 million worth of building permits issued.
That set an all-time record, with seven weeks still to go before year's end.
By the end of November, that figure had inched up to $253.8 million.
This year's projects include major upgrades at Algoma Steel and Tenaris.
Valued at a total $703 million, Algoma Steel's ongoing transition to electric arc steelmaking is considered the largest construction project in Sault Ste. Marie's history.
While there was a paucity of new construction in Sault Ste. Marie last month, there was $1.1 million in renovations and alterations, most in the residential sector.
More than 30 of those applications were for adding insulation to attics and basements, and caulking windows and doors to meet requirements of Enbridge's home winterproofing program.
When SooToday spoke last month with Freddie Pozzebon, the city's chief building official, he told us other permit applications were likely before year's end, possibly including the Cara Community Corp. project on Northern Avenue and an addition at the Ontario Finnish Resthome.
But on Wednesday, Pozzebon appeared less optimistic.
"From the conversations I've had with them, I don't think they're going to happen at the end of this year."
"We are meeting with certain individuals for possibly a late spring start on some of the projects."
Pozzebon doesn't spend a lot of time worrying about month-to-month changes in the construction business.
"Normally if there's a big influx of work, everything else gets delayed a month or two months, and then it picks up again."
"Usually in November or December, everybody's hoping that it calms down a little bit," said Pozzebon.