Residential and commercial development continues at a pace similar to the 10 year average. Construction on the Quality Inn on Selby St. has pressed on despite the COVID-19 pandemic. (Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

KEEPING PACE

Residential & commercial development on pace for average year despite COVID-19 setbacks

Jul 22, 2020 | 4:26 PM

NANAIMO — The region’s building boom appears to have weathered the COVID-19 storm.

During the first half of 2020, the City of Nanaimo approved $64 million in residential and $93 million in total development permits.

Both numbers are down considerably from a banner year in 2019 where $228 million in residential permits alone were approved. However are considered average when removing the 2019 statistical outlier and sampling data back to 2011.

Jeremy Holm, city director of development approvals told NanaimoNewsNOW the long term impacts of COVID-19 are still unknown.

“Last year was a record year for the City as far as permitted construction value,” Holm said. “I closed out a recap of last year saying I wouldn’t anticipate the same in 2020, definitely didn’t anticipate (the) pandemic and the impact that might have.”

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He said he’s happy the City is on pace for an average year given everything the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown on the construction industry.

Several multi-unit residential projects are in the works including a $2.5 million, 12-unit development on Wingrove St. and a $2.3 million nine townhouse complex on Kerrisdale Rd.

Major projects already approved by the City include a new $20 million fire hall on Fitzwilliam St.

Holm highlighted continued development of industrial land in the city, particularly two projects on Boxwood Rd.

“It’s quite a hub of activity there as far as industrial development happening,” Holm said. “Not a big surprise given what we know about the demand for industrial land and the limited supply in the city.”

Holm said a recent land capacity analysis by the city showed a shortage of available industrial land in Nanaimo, something council will be forced to grapple with at some point in the future.

While not coming in the first half of 2020, the City recently approved the latest in a line of permits for a sizeable development near Long Lake.

4800 Cedar Ridge will feature 170 residential units in three buildings and is worth approximately $27 million in construction value.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley