North Bay predicts banner year in construction.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: Special Report: Construction

North Bay stands to enjoy some banner years in construction if building permit values are any indication of things to come.

Mayor Vic Fedeli believes the city is "poised to take off" with a good cross-section of construction projects in the works in the residential, multi-residential, commercial and institutional sectors.

"We've already had more housing starts in the first six months than all last year."

In recent years, the city has averaged about $30 million in building permits annually, but by early July, North Bay had already reached the $33-million mark.

Fedeli says the value of permits has not hit the $60-million range since the late 1980s, and he is projecting the city will surpass that mark and possibly even close in on the $70-million level, which was once attained during the city's early '80s construction boom.

Fedeli attributes the increase to city hall's more business-friendly climate with a redtape cutting 'fast-track' program and a probusiness council that has encouraged more outside investor confidence in the city.

"There's no question that North Bay is seen as open for business for the first time in a long time.

"We're hands-on and we take an active interest in each building permit."

Both Nipissing University and Canadore College have plans to build student residences.

Nipissing's 226-bed residence is an $11.1-million design-build joint venture between Critchley Delean Trussler Evans Bertand Architects and Gap Construction from North Bay.

"I've had several meetings with (Nipissing) president (Dennis Mock), pushing them to take out a building permit and get started on their residence, because we know the price of steel escalated and pushed on the edge of making it a no-go."

Construction on the three- or four-storey building was expected to begin in July...