Saint John saw a positive first quarter in terms of development numbers, according to city staff.

Amy Poffenroth, the city’s director of permitting and development, presented an update to council’s growth committee on Tuesday.

Poffenroth said the city received 121 building permits between January and March with a construction value of $39.6 million.

That was well above the five-year average of 109 building permits with a construction value of $25.1 million.

“We’re almost $15 million higher in construction value than what the average would be for the same period of time the last five years,” said Poffenroth.

When it comes to residential units, city staff said 63 units were added during the first quarter, up from the five-year average of 44.

Poffenroth said 18 projects with over 1,700 new units are currently in the development queue, with many of those currently in the construction phase.

“We have just over 100 units being currently reviewed for building permit applications and over 400 units currently under construction with active building projects,” she said.

Coun. Brent Harris asked how many of those units currently under construction could be finished by the end of 2023.

Poffenroth noted that at least 100 of the units are getting “very close” to completion at this point.

“I’d say well over 100 by the end of this year,” she said in response to Harris.

In 2022, a total of 260 units had been created as of the end of November, which was slightly above the five-year average of 253.