NEW CANAAN, Conn. Even in a down economy, construction and renovation projects are still going on in New Canaan.
Chief building official Brian Platz of the New Canaan Building Department has been a busy man this summer, working on inspections and plan reviews for construction projects in town. If you called the building department today to request a site inspection, it would be at least a week before Platz or his assistant could get to your property. Seeking a plan approval? Expect to wait four to six weeks.
The bad economy has not been as rough on New Canaan as it has elsewhere in the state, Platz said. The same rules dont apply in same fashion as rest of the country, let alone the rest of the state, he said.
The numbers bear out Platzs comments. The planning office approved 18 new single-family dwelling permits for all of 2010. Through Aug. 11, a total of 13 new dwelling permits have been approved. Just 12 were approved in 2009, down from 28 in 2008.
Platz said his office saw a significant dip in activity only from September 2008 to spring 2009. Since then, New Canaan has not seen much slowdown, although more landowners are renovating or making alterations on existing homes instead of building new ones. So far this year, 62 additions, 12 accessory structures and 57 residential alterations have been approved. For all of 2010, a total of 103 residential additions, 274 alterations and 67 accessory structure permits were approved. Accessory structures include pools and garages.
In my theory, five years ago, your home was disposable. If it didnt suit you, youd tear it down and build a new one. Now, people are more conservative, Platz said. Its made more sense to rebuild and remodel.
Platz added that the shift does not mean less work. Renovations, he said, require more time for reviews and permits than new construction.
Local contractors are also getting busy again. Scott Hobbs, president of Hobbs Inc., said his firm is doing more renovation work than new home construction. But hes happy to have business back at a more comfortable level after slowing three years ago. Its not close to what it was, but its returned to a level thats sustainable."
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