Home building picks up in 2009

After four years of steady growth, building activity in unincorporated Whitman County took a step back in 2009.

County building inspector Dan Gladwill’s annual report listed 224 permits issued for construction projects last year, a downturn from the 244 issued in 2008. The 2008 total was the highest in a decade.

Gladwill submitted the report to county commissioners at their regular meeting last Monday, Jan. 18.

Of the permits issued, 15 were for single family homes. That number is up five from last year’s total.

County Commissioner Greg Partch was encouraged by the higher pace of rural home building. He credited the increase to the county’s rural residential building code, implemented in 2007.

“It’s finally beginning to bear its fruit,” said Partch.

Public Works Director Mark Storey noted the pace of rural home building bucked a lagging trend in the area.

“We just kind of keep chugging along at a steady rate,” he said.

Washington State University’s Center for Real Estate Research found the amount of single home building permits fell 16 percent in the third quarter of 2009, continuing a year-long decrease. The center has not yet published its full report on 2009.

Total valuations of permitted building in 2009 was $10,613,058, which was the highest total value of building the county has ever seen.