Building permits up 18%

Oklahoma City metro single-family building permits rose 18 percent last year, according to a survey including more than a dozen local municipalities.

Permits rose to 4,294 from 3,624 in 2000, according to a report issued by the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association and individual numbers received from the City of Piedmont. The association's report charts 13 metro municipalities and Oklahoma County.

December single-family building permits jumped 66 percent to 275 from 166 a year earlier.

Steve Wood, 2002 president of the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association, attributed the year-to-year increase to favorable interest rates and weather.

"The interest rates have just been a tremendous help. And we've had good weather all the way into December," Wood said.

The weather has been better for shopping and has also enabled the builders to pull permits and get homes started, he said.

Wood said he expects the interest rates to remain stable in 2002 to allow for another good year.

"I think we're going to have as good a year, if not better than this past year," he said.

In 2001, Mustang was "the leader of the pack" in terms of growth, according to Wood.

Mustang assigned 187 permits last year, up 65 percent from 113 in 2001. The municipality issued eight permits last month, one higher than in December 2000.

Wood expects Mustang as well as the southwest and northwest parts of the metro to remain the "hot spots" for 2002 due to the accessibility with the Kilpatrick Turnpike and the new extension of State Highway 4 across the South Canadian River.

A new bridge across the river between Mustang and Tuttle was officially opened on Tuesday.

Oklahoma City issued 2,303 single-family building permits in 2001, up 19 percent from 1,937 in 2000. It issued 138 permits in December, 38 percent more than for the same month a year ago.

Norman assigned 497 permits in 2001, up from 439 the previous year. The municipality awarded 32 permits in December, up from 15 a year earlier.

Edmond issued 492 permits for the year, up from 435 in 2000. In December, Edmond assigned 43 permits -- more than double the amount for December 2000.

Moore issued 337 single-family building permits in 2001, up from 322 the previous year. In December, Moore tripled its number of permits to 24 compared with the same month a year ago.

Wood attributed last month's growth in Moore mainly to the Southwest Oklahoma City Home Builders Association Parade of Homes scheduled for this June. The increased number of permits for the month reflects a lot of the homes that are getting started for that parade, he said.

Oklahoma County issued 147 single-family building permits in 2001, up 58 percent from 93 in 2000. In December, the county assigned eight permits -- three more than for the same month the previous year.

Midwest City assigned 112 permits last year, 38 percent higher than 81 permits issued the previous year. Midwest City issued 13 permits in December 2001, six more than a year ago.

Choctaw issued 84 permits in 2001, one more than for the previous year. In December, Choctaw assigned one permit -- down from two for the same month in 2000.

In 2001, Yukon assigned 52 permits, up from 43 for last year. Yukon issued five permits in December compared with zero for the same month the previous year.

Warr Acres, issuing one permit in 2001, tied its number for the previous year. None were filed in December 2001 or December 2000.

The Village has not issued any single-family building permits for the last two years.

El Reno, Nichols Hills and Bethany all reported a decline in activity last year.

El Reno slipped one to 17 permits issued in 2001. Nichols Hills assigned one permit during 2001, down from five the previous year. Bethany also only issued one single-family building permit for 2001. It had issued three in 2000.

El Reno and Bethany did not issue any single-family building permits last month or in December 2000. Nichols Hills, which also did not issue any permits in December 2001, did assign one for the same month a year ago.

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