Park City’s construction numbers trail by nearly $20 million

Park City’s construction industry had posted just less than $33.6 million through the end of October, a figure that continues to put the industry well behind last year’s lackluster pace.

Through the same period in 2010, the industry had tallied $53.1 million. The numbers in 2010 were well off the record-setting years prior to the recession, and it seems unlikely that the industry this year will match the 2010 pace.

According to the Park City Building Department, permits valued at nearly $3.8 million were issued in October. The tally beat the previous month by nearly $1 million and was well above the $2.3 million in permits issued in the previous October.

The number of electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits was mixed when measured against the previous month and the previous October.

The Building Department reported that alterations and additions to residential and commercial buildings propped up the numbers in October, accounting for a little more than $2.4 million of the overall monthly tally. Alterations and additions have played a more important role in the numbers since the recession as property owners decided to fix up their places while new groundbreakings have been less frequent.

The department, meanwhile, issued two permits for people to build houses and one relatively minor permit for a commercial building. No permits were issued for duplexes or multifamily projects.

The Building Department reported it conducted an average of 118 inspections each working day in October, down from both the previous month and the previous October.

Construction activity in Park City dropped sharply during the recession, a result of the economy faltering at about the same time as the number of major developments in Park City dwindled.

The Building Department is not anticipated to issue major permits in November or December that would significantly push up the year-end numbers. The total in 2011 could be among the lowest since the mid-1990s.

Some major projects could seek permits in 2012, but their timelines are not certain. Projects that would push up the numbers significantly include Park City Heights at Quinn’s Junction and the redevelopment of the Bonanza Park district.