An official
publication of the Volusia County Department of Economic Development
6
New construction in Volusia County during 2006 reached $1.1 billion,
but fell short of
2005 when the combined value of residential and commercial building
permits soared
to a record $ 1 . 5 billion.
According to
permit data collected by the Volusia County Department of Economic
Development from the county and city building permit offices, the
value of new construction permits issued in 2006 was $1.1 billion.
Permit offices across the county issued 3,463 single-family home
permits and 248 commercial permits. This compares to the 6,856
single family home permits and 246 commercial permits issued in
2005. Residential construction in 2006 continued to be by far the
largest percentage of new building activity. The value of single
family home permits last year amounted to $774.7 million or 70
percent of the total value of permits issued. While home building in
Volusia County last year lagged behind the torrid pace of 2005, the
value of commercial construction last year outpaced the value in
2005. Last year the value of commercial construction permits was
$341.5 million. This compares with the $231
million in commercial building recorded in 2005.
"Although last
year’s permit values were considerably less than 2005, I would say
that building activity in our county remained strong," said Volusia
County Economic Development Director Rick Michael. "And while
residential building activity slowed considerably, it appears the
commercial side is reacting to the residential growth and is
responding to the needs of our growing county."
There were 36
commercial permits issued in the fourth quarter last year that had a
value of $97.9 million – the highest dollar value by quarter of the
year. On the residential side, the second quarter was by far the
busiest with 1,143 single family home permits issued that had a
value of $277.8 million.
For the year,
there were more single family home permits issued in unincorporated
Volusia than any other jurisdiction. The county issued 798
residential permits worth $170.7 million, 22 percent of the single
family home permits issued countywide. Daytona Beach topped all
jurisdictions on the commercial side. Daytona Beach issued 39
commercial permits worth $68 million.
Building
industry officials noted that principles of the "smart growth"
concept began to show up in 2006. According to Dave Castagnacci,
director of the Volusia County Association for Responsible
Development (VCARD), one smart growth tenet is the mixed-use concept
-- a combination of commercial and residential development.
"In 2006, the
mixed-use plans started to come together and move forward,"
Castagnacci said. "We have been trying to encourage more downtown
development."
Mike Disher,
Port Orange Planning and Development Manager, said that in 2006
these types of initiatives gained momentum. He cited one mixeduse
project in the zoning stages -- the Palms, on the southeast corner
of Madeline Avenue and Clyde Morris Boulevard. "We now are seeing a
lot of interest in the mixed-use model. There has been an increase
in the number of commercial projects. Now that all of these people
are moving here, they need a place to shop and work."
Many Volusia
County cities are planning and developing based on smart growth
aspects of the suburban model -- larger lots and separation of uses.
"We try to have plenty of open space," Disher said. "And our
reclaimed water system gives people a
way to irrigate their lawns without using potable water." In 2006
Port Orange hired the city's first transportation planner. "It's
imperative we have someone devoted to that issue," Disher said.
In areas such
as South Daytona, where commercial construction has held strong,
mixed-use development became a focal point in 2006. Castagnacci
cited the Town Center, a mixed-use lifestyle project in the
southeast quadrant of South Daytona
as a prime example of this trend. The 50-acre mixed-use project has
no end date yet, although preliminary plans are done. "We are
interviewing national and regional marketers to start marketing the
project," said Chris Di Nardo, property manager,
Clark Properties.
Town Center
will include residential retail and commercial in one facility.
"This project follows the national trend of mixed-use facilities,
and we are hoping the center will be pedestrian-friendly and
community-oriented," Di Nardo said.
John Schoch,
South Daytona Assistant City Manager and Community Development
Director, said the center will serve as a magnet -- drawing in
members of the community for shopping. "Town Center is going to be a
major lifestyle center. There will be condos, apartments and a
variety of retail. There might even be residential above retail."
With these
trends started in 2005 and continuing in 2006, this year should be
another year of vibrant development. "Hopefully, cities around the
county will join together in 2007 to enact some of these smart
growth policies," Castagnacci said. ■
