If you just look at the raw numbers, 2018 saw a dramatic drop in the number of building permits issued in Airdrie.  

However, according to the Team Lead for the Building Inspections Department, to get an accurate picture, you need to compare more than just 2018 to 2017.

Pertti Harkonen says the number of building permits issued was definitely down in 2018 from 2017.  Some sectors showed a dramatic drop.  

Harkonen says, "So for Airdrie (in 2018), single-family homes there was a total of 453:  duplexes 108:  the industrial/commercial we ended up with 304 units: and then townhouses 140 units in that particular category.  In single-family we were down approximately 110 units (from 2017), duplexes we would be down about 20 units, apartments we were down to zero units from 51 units in one complex the previous year, townhouses we were down by about 93 units, so we were down considerably and industrial / commercial, we were out by one unit so we were fairly close to being on par there."

Harkonen goes on to explain that, if you go back to the figures for 2016, the drop is not so dramatic.  He says 2017 was an unusual year in construction in Airdrie.

"If we go back to 2016, 2017 was an unusually higher year than 2016 for single-family.  We didn't expect that many single-family homes to come onto the market in 2017.  So in 2018 it sort of balanced out again back to what 2016 numbers were."

Going forward into 2019, Harkonen believes there's caution being expressed by home builders, although he calls it cautious optimism.

"I think there's a caution in the environment.  I've spoken with BILD Calgary, their Airdrie organization has most of the Airdrie builders as part of it.  They're cautious, I think cautiously optimistic, but they're cautious in forecasting too many numbers.  It has affected the industry somewhat. 

I believe our numbers will be approximately the same as they were in 2018, I don't think it's going to vary too much.  There's some consistent numbers virtually every year, and that's the industrial/commercial.  The value of those permits are always up for question because if you have a good year you have larger industrial/commercial developments.  On a slower year, you're going to have smaller developments so the revenue on those will be quite a bit different.  Overall I think we're looking at a similar year as this last year."

According to Harkonen, local builders don't like to make projections until they're well into the year, around the end of March, at the end of the first quarter.  

"Just from conversations with some of the builders, they're having some slowdowns, there's no question about it and they're adjusting and accommodating for that.  They're probably looking at some of their product out there as well and looking at seeing how they can make it more effective and efficient to put into the market."

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