Ontario Construction News staff writer
Hamilton has surpassed $1 billion worth of construction activity in 2020, an accomplishment that the city says was possible with alternative service delivery options during the pandemic, including online building permits and virtual meetings with development applicants.
This follows a record-breaking year that surpassed $1.5 billion in 2019.
Total construction value (end of September) so far this year for Hamilton is made up of 69 per cent residential, 11 per cent commercial, 3 per cent institutional, and 17 per cent industrial.
“Reaching the milestone of $1 billion worth of building permits issued so far in 2020, particularly in the midst of a world-wide economic retraction caused by a global pandemic, is a significant achievement that sends a strong message that the momentum in Hamilton is real and continues despite all the challenges we have faced this year,” said Mayor Fred Eisenberger.
“With major investments and development happening now and into the future, I am proud of the dedication of staff as they continue to work with developers, builders, and our business partners to create more jobs for our community.”
The $1 billion total represents 4,718 building projects. It’s a milestone that Hamilton has reached in 10 of the past 11 years.
The City has now reached this milestone in 10 of the last 11 years.
In 2018, Hamilton saw $1.26 billion in construction – the second highest annual total ever.
“The City of Hamilton had to respond very quickly to make sure that we were able to continue to support growth and development despite the COVID-19 pandemic. I am very proud of our staff, and thankful to our development community, for how quickly they adapted to new measures such as digital submissions and virtual meetings to keep development going in the city,” said Jason Thorne, general manager, planning and economic development.
According to the city’s chief building official, the construction value is an indicator of the area’s construction industry.
“As a municipality, we’re proud to work alongside the many incredible developers, owners and contractors who give their best to our city,” said Ed VanderWindt.