2021 a big year for growth in Welland with building permits representing $245 million in construction
January 10, 2022
2021 a big year for growth in Welland with building permits representing $245 million in construction
The City of Welland issued 1,108 building permits in 2021, compared to 767 in 2020, for new builds like these homes on Sycamore Street. It said the value of building permit construction last year was approximately $245 million. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR
“All it takes is to drive around town to see the substantial residential growth throughout the city,” said Mayor Frank Campion. “It’s a mixed bag from single-family, duplexes, condos and apartment buildings.
“There’s a broad range of housing in our municipality and it’s all market-driven.”
Monday, the city released figures on the number and value of building permits in 2021 as compared to 2020.
In 2021, 1,108 building permits were issued, compared to 767 in 2020. Of those permits, 759 were for new dwelling unit starts.
A release from the city said the value of construction for all building permits last year was about $245 million. That’s a 22 per cent increase from the estimated construction value — approximately $200.1 million — for 767 permits issued in 2020.
“What these 2021 numbers represent is a strength in the city’s economy and the confidence people have in making Welland a preferred destination for their homes and businesses,” said Grant Munday, director of planning and development services.
Campion said the price of homes is attractive to people coming in from outside of Niagara.
The mayor said there is some internal shifting of residents, as well.
Munday said the city knew coming out of the pandemic that numbers would increase and added the types of permits issued, especially when it comes to apartments and other options for housing, tell where Welland is heading in its growth.
Residential growth within the city’s built-up area finished at 85 per cent, a 10 per cent increase over the previous year. Built-up growth occurs in areas where municipal services and development already exist, helping the city and Niagara Region achieve economies of scale in service delivery and reduce urban sprawl, the release said.
With the growth comes development charges that go toward recovering costs associated with the capital infrastructure needed to service new development and redevelopment.
Developments in Welland last year included a four-storey, 103-unit apartment building at 300 South Pelham Rd.; a six-storey, 137-unit apartment building at 699 Niagara St.; a 37-unit townhouse development on the southeast corner of Broadway and Perenack Avenue (the former Broadway School site); a 108-lot subdivision on the northwest corner of Webber and South Pelham roads, known Sparrow Meadows Phase 7; and a 98-lot subdivision on the north side of Sauer Avenue, west of Bradley Avenue, known as Waterways Commons Phase 2.
Campion said the growth provides more opportunities for businesses across the city as new residents seek out existing and new services.
An example, he said, would be residents from the GTA used to places like Starbucks and a Starbucks opening to meet that demand.
“Sales increase, and there are more jobs.”
While happy to see the growth, Campion said it comes with challenges.
“We see issues created with existing neighbourhoods. New development doesn’t always fit in with what’s there. We want to ensure we protect residents.”
The mayor said it’s an issue that’s been on his radar for the past year and a half as the city has grown.
“It’s imperative we have development in a responsible way, and we don’t want to expand the urban boundary. There’s a lot of land in the city for infill.”
Welland was successful in seeing its urban boundary expanded in its northwest quadrant — the area of Quaker and Rice roads.
“That’s land that should have been in the urban boundary many, many years ago,” he said, adding the expansion was to straighten out that problem.
The area is serviced by the Region. Campion said developers can tap into that when building new homes.
