The number of approved building permits was down in Blaine County in the first four months of this year, but construction was still underway at a vigorous pace in the Wood River Valley.
"I think everyone's just getting a late start this year," said Jon Anderson. vice president of the Building Contractor's Association of the Wood River Valley.
Only 33 building permits were approved from January through April, compared to 56 during the same period in 2005 and 64 in 2004. In fact, the number of permits approved in the first four months of this year is the lowest they've been since the year 2000.
But the numbers don't mean a significant demise in construction, said Anderson, who is also the mayor of Bellevue. "The building industry remains strong," he said.
Construction projects abound at Friedman Memorial Airport, at The Valley Club north of Hailey, at the Woodside area in Hailey and in Elkhorn Village in Sun Valley, where older condominiums are being replaced by new buildings.
Anderson attributed a late start in construction this year to colder weather, higher interest rates, a slowdown in real estate sales and a Blaine County subdivision moratorium.
Construction may have slowed slightly, but Anderson said that's probably better for the economy because of the current housing glut in the valley.
"I think it needs to slow down a little bit this year," he said.
The construction outlook also looks strong for the future as the subdivision moratorium ends this summer and as numerous annexation requests are processed in Bellevue.
