Building permits in Prince Albert are on the rise. (Susan McNeil/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Permit numbers increasing

Residential builds in Prince Albert starting to climb

Sep 10, 2024 | 4:00 PM

It’s hard to drive around Prince Albert and not see some sort of construction happening, with the Victoria Hospital expansion well underway, the Métis Nation building not far from there and multiple businesses about to open or under construction in The Yard.

But residential development is also starting to pick up as recent permit numbers from the city show.

“We’re seeing an increase in new housing starts,” said Michael Nelson, planning and development manager. “Currently we’re at 13 new single-family units from January to the end of August. At this time last year, we were at five.”

At least three homes are under construction on Hadley Road and another single-family dwelling is being built in Lake Estates.

Multi-family units are also being built, however.

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Last year, construction started on a complex of three apartment buildings in the West Hill, which are not yet completed.

This year, another 36 multi-family units have been added. Of those, said Johnson, twenty will be a walk-up style. Another 16 multi-units are being built in the Lake Estates retirement community.

Nelson speculated the residential growth is builders preparing for the 500 extra jobs that will be available once the hospital expansion is finished, still several years away.

Commercial development typically fluctuates but the city is still positive about the recent builds.

“We see it as good for the community as well and people investing here,” he said.

It was about 15 years ago that major residential expansion happened in Prince Albert with developments in subdivisions off Muzzy Drive in the east side of the city.

At the same time as building is beginning to gather steam, sales of existing homes remain strong but with some signs of market fluctuation.

Home sales are down compared to the same time last year but remain over the 10-year average and the benchmark price rose .01 per cent to hit $251,000.

Supply issues in Prince Albert are still a problem with the current inventory available for sale 12 per cent lower than the same time last year.

Inventory right now stands just over 40 per cent of the 10-year average.

Permits for single family home construction are up in Prince Albert. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com