Construction activity picking up here

Building permits totaling $4 million worth of construction projects occurred in January alone in Jamestown and Building Official Jim Weight figures he’ll see 10 times that amount by the end of March.

If so, it will double the amount of construction seen in all of 2009 in Jamestown. Only about $21 million worth of construction happened here last year. Weight said the flood situation had a lot to do with that.

“The flooding put construction on hold,” he said. “The contractors who would have been building February through April worked on flooding instead. The result is the 2009 construction season carried over into 2010.”

Only six permits have been issued so far for single family homes. But two apartment buildings are going up and they will provide nearly 100 additional rental units in the community. Weight said the Buffalo City Diesel building in the I-94 Business Park is going to be completed within 30 to 60 days. Construction of a new building for Mac’s is nearing completion. The new Mac’s is going up across the street from Paradiso Restaurant.

There’s also interior remodeling being done in Jamestown, he said. A new Mexican restaurant is scheduled to open soon in the strip shopping center across from Grizzly’s Grill N’ Saloon. Downtown there are a couple of deals in the works although Weight said no permits have been issued. According to Candace Dempsey of Reuben Liechty Realty, there’s a sale pending on the former Barkus Hardware building on First Avenue. Also, a liquor license has been issued for a proposed new bar at the corner of First Avenue and Second Street South.

Much of the $40 million in construction Weight expects to see is being generated by the Jamestown Regional Medical Center building project. Already, nearly 600 yards of concrete have been poured for foundation and footings, he said, and the work is only one-fifth completed. It’s planned to open in the early fall of 2011.

“For my department this is a huge project,” he said.

The medical center project has begun catalyzing interest in the rest of the area as well. Weight said at this point, it’s mostly speculation and looking at a number of factors. He said no one has mentioned building anything in the area near the medical center yet. However, inquiries are being made to him about infrastructure — sewer, water, roads and major highways.

“The calls I’m getting I can only put in one place — south of the interstate (I-94),” he said. “The new hospital will be a factor in the growth of Jamestown based on what they do and what they draw.”

Connie Ova, CEO of the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp., said last week that she, too, has started getting inquiries on the area around the new medical center.

Planning Commission Chairman Harley Trefz agrees the new medical center will act as a catalyst. Development tends to happen near a major highway where water and sewer are already available, he said.

“The potential for development in the southwest area is very good,” Trefz said. “I’ve always believed that Jamestown has enormous potential and we’ve never realized that potential. Now we’re closer to stepping over that threshold.”

Trefz and Weight believe the new Land Use and Transportation Plan just authorized by the City Council combined with a strategic plan for the city will help push the potential into reality. Trefz said it’s an opportunity to pull together all that’s happening and planned to happen in the community with infrastructure needs.

“That kind of future thinking will be attractive to developers,” he said.

Added to those development tools, Weight said Trefz wants to involve surrounding townships in the Planning Commission. He added the JSDC and the Planning Commission also need to get together.

“We need to be proactive rather then reactive,” Weight said. “It’s time and long overdue that the city starts making strides toward the future, probably most especially in planning.”

Sun reporter Toni Pirkl can be reached at (701) 952-8453 or by e-mail at tonip@jamestownsun.com