In what’s becoming a “same old story,” April permit data compiled from city and county building departments show an increase over March and substantial growth over the same period last year. With the first quarter of 2005 off to a strong start and April’s average increasing beyond first quarter averages, experts believe this will be another high-growth year for the local housing market.
The data was compiled by the Northeast Florida Builders Association for the greater Jacksonville area of Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties.
Compared to April last year, the four counties combined show a 31 percent growth rate with 1,229 permits issued in April 2004 and 1,605 permits issued in April.
Locally, the building industry is poised for another very good year, said Northeast Florida Builders Association President Bryan Lendry.
“Our economy remains strong,” Lendry said. “The continued demand for new homes is driving the market. Northeast Florida is enjoying unprecedented national attention in the wake of the Super Bowl, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and recent filming activity here. It’s a good time to be in the limelight.”
Two counties, Duval and St. Johns counties, showed an increase over March numbers with the greatest in Duval County with 776 permits in April compared to 698 in March, an increase of 11 percent. St. Johns County recorded 392 permits in April compared to 377 in March. Clay County issued 321 permits in April, 349 in March, and Nassau County had 116 permits in April, 117 in March.
The monthly average for permits issued in the four counties so far in 2005 is 1,368. Last year, a monthly average of 1,136 permits was recorded.
Dennis Ginder has been promoted to division president for Morrison Homes’s Jacksonville division. He will be responsible for managing all functions related to the company’s current homebuilding operations in its 23 communities in Jacksonville, Orange Park, Middleburg and St. Augustine. Ginder, a Jacksonville native, has been vice president of construction for the division … Memorie Stastny has been promoted to corporate events and promotions manager at LandMar. She will be responsible for overseeing all promotional programs and events for LandMar’s corporate operations as well as its projects and will manage the company’s Realtor Program.
The Prudential Network Realty has been named the sales and marketing agent for Le Meridien, a new condominium community featuring Mediterranean architecture located on North First Street in Jacksonville Beach.