BY DEBORAH LAVERTY, Times of Northwest Indiana
dlaverty@nwitimes.com
HOBART | Growth-wise it may not have been a banner year for construction in the city but it wasn't a bad year either, Building Commissioner Carroll Lewis said.
"It was an average year," was the way Lewis characterized Hobart's 2007 construction totals.
Home construction was down slightly from the previous year with permits for 58 new homes issued in 2007 compared to 64 in 2006, according to data provided by Karen Hansen of the city's Building and Engineering Department.
Of those new home permits issued, 43 received residential tax abatements, she said.
There were also eight permits issued for duplexes/townhomes last year.
That compares to six in 2006.
Lewis said new home construction is down in Hobart as it is throughout the area and nation.
"There's the trend, of course, as well as for Hobart the lack of availability of vacant lots in new subdivisions. Right now we're sitting on less than 30 uncommitted lots," he said.
In addition, the number of new home permits has shrunk because residential tax abatements have almost been eliminated for new subdivisions, he said.
While developed land is dwindling, Lewis predicts there will be residential growth in the future in Hobart since there's plenty of undeveloped land to build on.
"Lake County is sitting back and waiting on the real estate tax. Hobart will be in a great position if the 1 percent (property tax) cap is passed. We'll have a boom once this tax thing is settled," he said.
The total estimated construction amount in 2007 was $72.3 million, down substantially from $117.16 million in 2006.
But that year was a banner one because it included the new Hobart High School, which was valued at $62.5 million, Lewis said.
Some of the major commercial construction in 2007 included:
* Hanson Logistics, a 124,000-square-foot freezer/warehouse facility.
* Albanese expansion.
* WiseWay expansion.
* Hilton Garden Inn, a 75,138-square-foot hotel.
* Surface Doctor, a warehouse and retail complex.
* Maxim Motorsports, a 34,600-square-foot motorcycle dealership.
* Hobart Medical Facility, a 16,550-square-foot medical facility.
* Northwood Crossing, a 150,000-square-foot building.
* Dollar General, a 9,147-square-foot retail space.
Lewis said total permits and fees collected in 2007 was $892,928, which doesn't include contractor's licensing fees.
That compares to 2006 when only about $547,000 in permits and fees were collected.