CITY BUILDING COOLS IN JANUARY; 1996 SHORT OF RECORD

Construction permits are off to a slow start this year, but that's understandable, considering the weather, city inspection services director Rick Murray said.

Some 15 building permits worth about $1.3 million were issued last month.

January was a month of wintry weather, with a period of sub-zero weather (minus-4 Jan. 1 and minus-2 Jan. 13) to go along with as many as nine single-digit temperature days.

Mixed with the cold was sleet or rain on a half-dozen days.

But a few new companies have continued their plans for early 1997 openings.

Dollar Tree Inc., a variety store offering merchandise at $1, has opened in the Cape West Business Park; Pier 1 Imports, a specialty retailer of decorative home furnishings, gifts and related items, will open Tuesday in a new, free-standing building at 3051 William; Shipping Utilities Inc., a dealership for Hyster Fork Lift, Cushman Industrial Personnel and Burden Carriers and Advance Industrial Scrubbers & Sweepers, has opened at 1477 N. Kingshighway; and Sam's Wholesale Club, near the Wal-Mart Supercenter, is looking to a late April opening.

Construction is ongoing on a number of projects, including a new exterior look at the north end of Southeast Missouri Hospital.

The hospital project, expected to be complete by late spring, will tie together design elements of the new additions, including the Harrison Annex, the Clinical Services Building and the new lobby. A combination drivit-finish and brick will be used, along with a window curtain wall.

Work continues on the 14-cine theater project by Wehrenberg Theaters, in Cape West Park.

City construction last year topped $45 million for only the second time in history.

Two of the construction industry's main sectors showed increases as permits were issued for more than $47.6 million, more than 7 percent more than the $44.2 million in 1995 and only $357,507 below the record year of 1992, when two giant construction projects boosted the overall total to $47.9 million.

Fewer commercial buildings were constructed last year, but the valuation was greater. In 1995, 48 commercial building resulted on a combined cost of $21.5 million.

Brenda Schloss of inspection services said 30 permits were issued for 30 new commercial structures valued at $26.1 million..

Additions and expansions to commercial building were down, at $5.1 million for 81 permits, compared to $7 million in 1995.

Residential construction was up to 86 new single-family homes, at $11.4 million, up from the 57 single-family residences at $8.1 million in 1995.

Total living units were down overall. In 1995, permits for 122 apartment units were issued. Along with the 57 single-family houses, this translated into 164 family units. Only 18 apartment units were built in 1996.

Still, construction contracts were the second biggest ever.

"It was a good year," said Murray. "We issued a total of 508 permits.

Among the largest projects were the $7.5 million clinker storage project for Lon Sstar Industries Inc.; $2.96 million for the new Sam's Wholesale Club; $2 million for a 14-cine theater by Wehrenberg Theaters; $1.4 million for the new D&K Wholesale Drug facility. D&K moved operations to 1823 Rust Ave., from Cairo, Ill. The Alliance Blue Cross/Blue Shield processing center was built at $1.6 million.

Commercial projects accounted for almost two-thirds of the 1995 total, at $31.5 million -- $26.1 million in new construction and $5.4 million in additions and expansions.

Construction last year started fast. Twenty-four permits were issued, but one was for Lone Star's $7.5 million clinker project.

The year finished in a flourish, with permits issued for Sam's Wholesale Club and the 14-cine theater.

"In between it was pretty steady," said Murray.

Missing from the $47.6 million are the $15 million business building on the Southeast Missouri State University campus and the start of the new Mississippi River bridge.

The city's construction binge is in line with activity statewide. Year-end totals showed the state's construction was down 7 percent, according to the F.W. Dodge Division of McGraw-Hill, an authority on the construction market.

Dodge reports construction for 1996 was at $5.9 billion, compared to $6.4 billion in 1995. Nonresidential construction -- commercial, manufacturing, hotel and other buildings -- was down 20 percent, from $2.8 billion in 1995 to $2.2 billion in 1996.

Residential construction was reported at $2.6 billion, up 10 percent from the $2.4 billion of 1995. Nonbuilding -- streets, bridges, airports, river and harbor developments -- was reported at $1.7 billion, down 10 percent from the $1.3 billion of 1995.

TOTAL NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE 1990s, $269.3 MILLION

Following is a look at building activity in Cape Girardeau through the 1990s.

1996 -- 86 new homes, $11.5 million; 18 apartments units, $2.5 million; 30 commercial buildings, $26.1 million; additions to residences, 78, $1.1 million; additions to commercial buildings, $5.5 million; carports, garages, swimming pools, signs, etc., 171 permits, $912,107. Total: 505 permits, $47,639,192.

1995-- 57 new homes, $8,058,976 (average, $141,000); 37 apartment structures, 122 units, $4,975,500; 48 commercial buildings, $21,546,417; additions to residences and commercial buildings, and signs, $9.7 million. Total: $44,367,286.

1994 -- 105 new homes, $14,303,002 (average, $135,000); 19 apartment structures, 59 units, $3,153,000; 42 commercial buildings, $13,155,923; additions to residences and commercial buildings, and signs, $8.2 million. Total: $38,989,446.

1993 -- 103 new houses at a cost of $11,603,800 (average $112,658); duplexes and apartment buildings (17 units), $2,116,000; commercial buildings, $9,647,461; public buildings, $5,639,871; additions to residences and business buildings, and signs, $4.2 million. Total: $33,169,258.

1992 -- (record year): 89 new houses at a cost of $10,600,000 (average $120,000); nine apartment or duplex units, $879,000; additions to residences and business buildings, $7,300,000; commercial buildings, $29,217,699. Total: $47,996,699.

1991 -- 70 new houses at a cost of $8,080,000 (average $112,000); Two apartment units, $65,000; additions to residences and business buildings, $3,453,474; 110 commercial buildings, $20,221,179. Total: $31,704,468.

1990 -- 82 new houses at a cost of $6,176,051 (average $75,300); 84 apartment units, $1,663,000; additions to residences, $345,131; 62 commercial buildings, 12,673,737; additions to commercial buildings, $3,523,291; public buildings, $1,091,000. Totals: $25,626,901.