BY JENNIFER BAILEY
DANVILLE — The recession may have slowed new home construction in the city, but other construction — and also destruction — continues in the city.
Records at the city’s Public Development Department show only four new single-family homes built so far this year in the city.
This compares to nine last year and 10 in 2007.
The total permit value for the four homes this year is $820,000. This compares to a value of $947,500 in 2008 and more than $1 million in 2007.
Other surrounding cities, with universities, have seen more homes continue to be built. But housing construction has stayed pretty flat here the last five years, Planning and Zoning Manager Chris Milliken said.
In 2005, the city issued 21 permits for new residential construction with a construction value of $3.1 million.
Public Development Director John Heckler said the city has seen up to about 30 housing starts a year.
“We always hope for new residential starts,” he has said.
Areas for new home construction have been Stonegate, Bayview Estates and Liberty Estates.
Milliken said lots still remain available in Devonshire, Liberty Estates/Village, Bayview Estates and here and there, such as on Sonny Lane.
Demolitions also have left open several lots for redevelopment.
But with the city’s ample supply of houses available for families, new home construction may not be necessary.
Building permits are down by about 200 this year, so far totaling 1,067. This compares to 1,274 in 2008 and 1,246 in 2007.
Electrical permits also are down, and mechanical permits (for plumbing work, new furnaces, water heaters, etc.) also are down by about 100.
There were about 61 demolitions this year. There were 121 in 2008 and 58 in 2007. The city used bond issue funding to demolish more structures.
Milliken also reports there were only two zoning petitions that the zoning commission acted on this year. Normally, there are on average seven a year.
But he attributes the lower number to revisions of the city’s zoning ordinance not requiring as many zoning and property changes.
“A lot of properties were over-zoned,” Milliken said.
Most zoning changes are now occurring on the periphery of the city, he added.
There also have been fewer special-use permits considered this year — only four (and three were denied by the city).
There were as many as 17 recently, in 2007. They’ve averaged about six or seven a year in the past, Milliken said.
Commercial work
The anticipated opening of the new CVS store at Main and Bowman is among the commercial building construction that has taken place this year.
The finishing of the new CVS store, however, is taking longer than expected.
The store now likely won’t be open until February, reports Brooke Vahle, shift supervisor at the CVS on Griffin Street.
“I’m not sure why the delay,” she said.
All employees will move to the new, larger building.
Vahle said there also will be new hiring for the new photo department and to staff the store up front.
She said those seeking a job can submit their resumes now through the Web site http://www. cvs.com.
Another senior housing complex that was under construction by Lutheran Social Services of Illinois is now open.
Deer Creek Manor, 3916 N. Vermilion St., has 25 one-bedroom units.
An official said it’s been open about a month now, and it’s slowly leasing up.
Elsewhere, there has been ThyssenKrupp’s addition, new scales added at the gas station at Main and Lynch, Fiberteq’s new warehouse, Provena United Samaritans Medical Center projects and other construction.
Milliken said he’s surprised there’s been as much construction in this year’s economic climate.
Downtown Danville, Inc. Executive Director Dana Schaumburg also reminds the public and business owners that it is a great time to locate, expand or renovate in downtown.
Loan and grant programs are available for businesses: Downtown Upper Story Development Loan Program and Small Business Revolving Loan Program.
For more information, contact Schaumburg at the DDI office, 149 N. Vermilion St., call her at 443-3886 or e-mail her at dana@downtowndanville.org.
As for next year, at least Walgreens’ new construction at Fairchild and Gilbert streets is expected to get under way.
Wachovia Securities’ building lease expires April 30, 2010.
The Walgreen’s already at the intersection will relocate to the southwest corner.
A new, larger 14,500-square-foot building is planned to be built on the acre-and-a-half land. The new building will offer a drive-up window for prescriptions.
