NEARING THE TOP: 1998 CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY IS AMONG BEST IN RECENT YEARS

After averaging more than $3.5 million and 48 building permits a month during the first 10 months 1998, Cape Girardeau construction permits declined in November and December.

When the year's totals were compiled by Brenda D. Schloss, administrative secretary of the city's inspection services division, it showed a total of 550 permits had been issued in the amount of $39,785,496 during 1998.

Although the total missed the $40 million mark, 1998 went down as a good construction year in Cape Girardeau.

Some highlights:

-- Eighty permits were issued for new homes in the amount of $12 million, for an average of $150,500 each.

-- Seventy-five permits were issued for apartments and duplexes totaling $4.2 million.

-- Thirty-six permits were issued for new commercial buildings totaling $12.8 million.

-- Permits totaling more than $9 million were issued for expansions, remodeling and other additions to structures.

The dollar total surpassed 1997's by more than $6 million and made 1998 the fifth best in the city's building history.

The largest single permit for 1998 was for $3.4 million to Cape Girardeau public schools for a the new elementary school at 1829 N. Sprigg. Two more school projects -- renovations to an elementary school and Central Junior High School -- added another $3 million to the year's totals.

One of the largest commercial projects was the start of the second phase of development of Saxon Village retirement complex by the Lutheran Home. It calls for an additional 48 apartments. A permit for half of those apartments was obtained last month, and a $1.8 million permit was obtained in September for 24 units.

Other half-million-dollar-plus commercial projects included Stanco, L.L.C., Sundance Apartments, $2.1 million; Silver Springs Surgical Center, $1 million; Residential Care Center, $600,000; and Wieser Honda auto dealership, $800,000.

A permit was issued in October for Cornerstone Church in the amount of $550,000.

The city has experienced only three $40-million-plus years in its construction history. The record construction year was 1992, when two giant medical-center projects shoved the total to $47.9 million. A total of 522 permits were issued that year.

Two more $40 million years are on the 1990s list -- $47.6 million in 1990, when 573 permits were issued; and $44.3 million in 1995 on 593 permits.

The record year for permits was 1994, when 637 were issued in the amount of $38.9 million, the fourth best during the 1990s.

Construction totals do not include the city's street and sewer improvements and the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge.

Neither do they include two major commercial expansions near Cape Girardeau last year: Procter & Gamble Co.'s $350 million plant addition and Biokyowa Inc.'s $85 million plant expansion.