Algoma Steel, religious buildings, Volkswagens drive construction activity

A $10-million industrial building serving Algoma Steel's gas-cleaning facility is a major shot in the arm to the local construction sector, according to the latest building permit statistics compiled by the City of Sault Ste. Marie.

The structural steel building, complete with concrete foundation, fans, motors and stack to house Algoma Steel mechanical equipment, is the largest single building project so far in 2019.

$17.6 million in industrial permits have been issued, up smartly from $1.4 million this time in 2018.

Commercial building permits issued January through August totalled $17.9 million, compared to $18.1 million in 2018.

Institutional and governmental permits amounted to $17.2 million, down significantly from $25.9 million in 2018.

$23.4 million in residential permits were issued, a drop from $26.3 million during the same period last year.

Highlights of 2019's building permits include:

• Mark Berlingieri's $6-million new Northside Volkswagen dealership at 878 Great Northern Rd.
• a new $450,000 Jehovah's Witnesses religious building at 928 Second Line East
• $1.5 million in interior and exterior renovations and site work at the existing New Apostolic Church at 135 Arden St.
• a total of $1.3 million in Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corp. roof replacements at 55 and 90 Chapple Ave.
• a 280-square-metre child care addition and interior and exterior renovations at R.M Moore Public School, valued at a total of $2.3 million
• $2.7 million in repairs to a 380-square-metre portion of the Ontario government parking garage at 70 Foster Dr.
• $1 million in renovations to the Professional Place Ltd. dental offices at 212 Queen St. E.
• $1.8 million to build an atrium addition on the south side of the office building at 473 Queen St. E.
• $1.9 million for an eight-unit Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corp. assisted-living building at 676 Second Line W.
• $2 million to convert an elementary school at 100 Estelle St. to a 24-unit apartment building
• $2.4 million to construct a nine-unit Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corp. apartment building with community centre at 676 Second Line W.
• $300,000 in renovations for the Sault's first free-standing Starbucks at 168 Great Northern Rd.
• $200,000 for interior renovations for a new Quesada Burritos and Tacos restaurant at 153 Great Northern Rd.
• $500,000 in renovations at 308 Great Northern Rd. for the new Shogun Sushi restaurant
• $300,000 in renovations for a Domino's Pizza location at 357 Trunk Rd.
• $130,000 to remove non-load-bearing walls and perform interior renovations for the new headquarters of Village Media/SooToday at 298 Queen St. E.

Total building permits secured during the eight months ended Aug. 31 totalled $76.1 million, up from $71.9 million in the same period last year.