The building numbers have been crunched for the first half of 2023 in the City of Moncton and officials say the value of permits was just under $100 million.

In the year-to-date ending June 30, the city had issued 539 permits worth about $99.1 million.

The second quarter proved to be pivotal as the permit value soared to $79.6 million across 410 permits as construction season began in earnest.

Residential construction was a major driver of the surge with 152 permits taken out for the construction of 350 new residential units for a combined value of $53.1 million.

Notable projects included the construction of a $14.1 million, 105-unit apartment building at 320 Millennium Blvd, and the development of a $2.4 million, 29-unit apartment building at 84 MacAleese Lane.

“The city is very committed to helping to bring forward and support the construction of new residential projects and units in our community. We are very enthused with the residential construction activity which will result in a wide variety of quality housing options for our residents,” explains Mayor Dawn Arnold.

“By actively encouraging and supporting residential development of all kinds, we are taking concrete steps towards alleviating the housing shortage in Moncton, ensuring that our community continues to thrive and accommodate the needs of our growing population.”

Several institutional and government projects have been approved in 2023 with building permits amounting to over $2.4 million distributed across 13 projects.

Those include the construction of four modular classrooms for Northrop Frye School, valued at $433,000, and the replacement of the vehicle exhaust system at the Brandon Street fire station and at the Hildegard Drive fire station, with a permit valued at $292,000.

Commercial construction was also thriving with building permits valued at over $39.2 million across 85 permits year-to-date.

Among them is the construction of a Bayview Kenworth dealership, valued at $4.8 million, at 175 Harrisville Blvd, as well as the development of a cold storage and office building by Cargo County, with a permit valued at $4.3 million, at 180 Desbrisay Avenue.

“Moncton is experiencing a surge of construction activity across various sectors. This level of interest and commitment from developers underscores our city’s appeal as a prime location for business and investors,” notes Kevin Silliker, Director of Economic Development.

“The Economic Development team is here to support and assist developers, businesses, and investors who are looking to capitalize on the immense opportunities that Moncton offers.”