Commercial permits remain steady in 2010

By Patrick Fisher, Staff Writer

New Prague's building permits for 2010 remained at a relatively steady rate compared to recent years. Commercial and industrial permits especially remained consistent, as there were 32 for 2010, making it the third year in a row that same number of permits were issued.

City Planning Director Ken Ondich explained while the number of permits was the same there was a decrease in their value. For 2010, commercial and industrial permits were valued at approximately $505,055. That's well below 2009 and 2008, where construction was $2.2 million and $1.9 million, respectively. In those years, there were large commercial projects such as the Walgreens Pharmacy.

Ondich said 2010 permits were for alterations to existing buildings and a few small additions. Among the projects were the remodeling of the former Snyder Drug to house Snap Fitness and other shops, work done by Electromed Inc., and the remodeling of the former Catholic Workman building into the home for New Day Church.

There were eight permits for single family homes in 2010. For the third year those permits are staying low