The Municipality of Anchorage reports that 2003 was the second best year in its history for construction permits. The city issued building permits valued at $728 million last year. The highest year on record was 1983 when the permit values exceeded $1 billion.
"At $728 million, it has been a huge year," said James Gray, deputy building officer at the building safety division for the municipality. "If our staff hadn't been up to speed, it would have swamped us."
The city also recorded $338 million in residential permits by the end of the year. Anchorage issued permits for 1,309 single family or duplex homes and 622 multi-family homes in 2003.
Commercial construction was valued at $265 million and government permits reached $125 million.
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The total valuation in 2003 represented a dramatic increase over the previous year. In 2002, building permits processed totaled $589 million. In 2001, the total was $599 million.
After the boom in 1983 that reached over $1 billion, the industry crashed and by 1987, the valuation of permits plummeted to $80.5 million, according to Gray. For three years it hovered in the $80 million range but since then has gradually climbed.
Though it is too early to tell how 2004 will shape up, the year is starting strong for the permit department. As of Jan. 8, the city had already recorded $4.5 million in permits issued, according to Gray. Residential construction accounted for $3 million while commercial construction made up the other $1.5 million.
Any projects built on federal land, including military installations, are not included in the municipality's permitting process.
Some of the projects that helped make 2004 a banner year include:
Eagle River High School - $29 million
Alaska Psychiatric Hospital - $23.8 million
Bartlett High School improvements - $17.5 million
East High School upgrade and addition - $12 million
Hilton Homewood Suites Hotel - $9.4 million
Center Point Financial Center - $9.0 million
Alaska Native Tribal Health Center - $6 million
