Construction boom continues to echo in Timmins.

• Author: Stewart, Nick
• Position: SPECIAL REPORT: TIMMINS - Real estate development

The construction boom experienced by all sectors in the city of Timmins continued to resonate throughout 2007, with 555 permits worth $46.5 million having been issued last year.

"In the commercial and industrial sectors, there's obviously a keen interest in the city right now," Mark Jensen, director of development services with the city.

"You can see the big-box store development happening and planned expansions to some of those as well, and you'll see that continue. I don't think that's over yet."

While the dollar value of the work represents a drop from 2006's total of $62.6 million, the number of permits has risen from 499 in that year. Jensen attributes the disparity to the influx of big-name commercial developments that year such as Home Depot, though ongoing work throughout the city remains comparatively strong.

For instance, the Timmins Square is pursuing a 77,000-square-foot expansion, while the former Mattagami Hotel on the corner of Shirley Street and Riverside Drive is being replaced with a 20,000-square-foot Future Shop outlet.

The Feldman Timber property on Algonquin Boulevard features a 60,000-square-foot development consisting of a hardware store, a Shoppers HomeHealthCare centre, and a restaurant.

A separate 26,000-square-foot Shoppers Drug Mart development on Cameron Street and Algonquin Boulevard is also being built.

Both Timmins International and the Bucket Shop have also recently established new buildings on Riverside Drive, at a size of 15,000 square feet and 10,000 square feet, respectively.

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Housing is also faring well, with five subdivisions currently under development, totaling 192 lots.

These include large-scale projects, such as the Highlands subdivision, a 26-acre parcel of land east of J.V. Bonhomme Blvd. and west of MacLean Drive. This space is being developed into 101 residential lots across three phases.

On the other end of the scale, an eight-lot endeavor known as the Omada subdivision is being pursued in South Porcupine, with 10 residential lots fronting on Quebec Avenue.

A sixth subdivision has also been recently proposed for the city, with a 51-lot project known as the Shelswell subdivision to be located off Sony and Nadine streets in South Porcupine.

Bruno Gendron, broker with Royal LePage, says the housing boom seen throughout the last two and a half years has kept strong through 2007.

Typically, anywhere from 20 to 28 new homes are built in Timmins in a given year; 68 were built...