What began as a sluggish building season appears to be ending that way for Durango, which reported the fewest number of single-family residential building permits since 2012.
Through August, city records show the city issued 27 such permits, a 37 percent decrease from the same period last year when 43 permits were issued.
Builders pulled 45 permits in 2014, 44 in 2013 and just 19 in 2012.
However, single-family construction has been up in La Plata County for the past two years. There were 90 permits recorded through August this year and 86 in 2015, compared with an average 60 to 65 in the previous three years.
Edgemont Highlands, just outside the city limits, thrived over the summer. Developer Tom Gorton said construction has stabilized over the past four years and only a handful of lots are left for original sales.
“It’s been very busy at Edgemont Highlands, possibly a few less permits than 2015, but about on par,” Gorton said. “There is an ever-diminishing amount of land for permits to be pulled in the city. My experience is that you see permits pulled in spurts as you get a specific development approved.”
Three Springs in Grand View was one of the exceptions; the bustling community pulled nearly 40 percent of the permits for new single-family construction in the city through August this year, plus an additional six permits in December last year for 2016 building. New builds have popped up particularly at Confluence Avenue, where Three Springs’ 101-unit apartment complex was finished this year.
“We’ve definitely been a dominant player in the field,” said Tim Zink, commercial sales and leasing representative.
The city missed out this summer on construction permits in Twin Buttes just west of downtown; lots went on sale just last month. But next spring is expected to be booming.
Twin Buttes Chief Operating Officer Bob Delves said several lots are under contract and are expected to close within 30 days.
“The milestone has been just getting to the starting line,” said Delves; the subdivision has taken years to be realized. “I’m happy with where we’re at. I would say we’ve had an equal mix of local interest and out-of-state – from the Front Range, Texas and Phoenix.”
Single-family permits in Bayfield have more than doubled since last year. To date, the town has recorded 22 permits this year and 10 last year.
“It’s price-point and the fact that you can still get a single-family home with some yard for under $300,000,” said Chris La May, town manager and planner. “But the challenge we see out here, truthfully, because of the increase in building this year, we’re on pace to run out of single-family residential lots in two to three years.”
At 12.8 million, single-family building permits are up 8 percent across the state through July 2016, compared to 11.9 million in 2015, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
jpace@durangoherald.com
