Home Depot boosts building permits

Nearly $4 million worth of work on a new Home Depot store at the northeast corner of 31st and Iowa streets was the largest construction project started in Lawrence during August, according to a recently released report by the city’s building inspections department.

The store, which is expected to open in April or May, was part of $14.13 million worth of construction projects started in August, making the month the third busiest of 2002. The monthly total was down from $19.01 million in July and also below the $16.42 million posted in August 2001.

But the totals marked the fourth-consecutive month Lawrence builders have started more than $10 million worth of projects. The totals also keep Lawrence on track to have an above-average building year. For the year, construction crews have started $96.38 million worth of projects. That’s below last year’s record-setting pace of $111.28 million, but it is the third-highest August total since 1996.

Single-family housing construction, however, continued to decline for the third consecutive month. Builders took out permits for 20 new homes, which is the third-lowest monthly total of the year. It is a drop from 27 in July and from 27 in August of 2001. For the year, city officials have issued permits for 198 new homes, compared to 213 at this time last year. This year’s new home construction pace is the second slowest since 1990.

Besides Home Depot, other large projects started in August included a $1.49 million project to add a small retail shopping area onto the Hy-Vee store at 4000 W. Sixth St. and a $722,000 office building at 1420 Wakarusa Drive.