Estimated construction costs on building permits filed with the city have doubled so far in 2016 compared to the same period last year. Over $184 million in building projects have been announced since January, according to the city’s July 2016 permit report.
The majority of project costs were announced in the first three months of the year, with three major projects responsible for the hike. Two projects totaling $12 million received permits in January — a shopping center on Country Club and a Kroger Marketplace on Nelson.
The year’s biggest announcement — a $50 million Golden Nugget hotel tower — was announced in March. Other large commercial developments the city permitted in March included a restaurant development at the Noble Building on Pujo Street, the city’s Riverside Park project, a retail strip mall on Nelson Road and a smaller strip center on Common.
Aside from these large announcements affecting the dollar amount, the growth in number of permits is due primarily to construction in large-scale mixed use neighborhoods — like Morgan Field and Graywood — and new apartment complexes, according to director of planning and development Mike Huber.
Huber said most construction is occurring in downtown and Southeast Lake Charles, and that changes in the Lake Charles economy is responsible for construction increases.
“Considering a June 2016 report by the Louisiana Workforce Commission that Lake Charles area employers added 3,200 jobs over the past year, it’s no surprise that construction in Lake Charles is on the rise,” he said. He described the increase in permit requests as “indicative of a healthy economy.”
Various local entities have began updating infrastructure to accommodate these new jobs, such as Chennault, Lake Charles Port and the city’s Public Works Department. Mister Edwards, director of public works, said this year the department has undertaken several projects, including a $43 million wastewater treatment plant and laboratory, to accommodate the increase in population.
“The new project will help meet the needs of the area’s growing population and represents the single largest infrastructure investment in the city’s history,” Edwards said.
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