After a slow first six months of the year, there was a surge in building permits in Steinbach during July. Close to $7 million worth of building permits were issued by the city, bringing the total so far this year to about $20 million. Chief Administrative Officer Troy Warkentin says that leaves the city only slightly behind previous comparable years.

"Some of the other years that we've had in that time period certainly were higher. 2018, 2015 and 2009, for example, were in the range of $23 million."

Warkentin says even though the value of permits is down a bit so far this year, there have been more housing starts than in those comparable previous years.

"It appears that in the other years that we compared 2019 to, more of the permits were reflective of more custom-built, larger homes, where what we're currently seeing in 2019 is lower-priced homes, especially in developments where entry-level housing is being developed right now."

There have been 81 housing starts this year including 37 in July, 32 of those being new condos being built along First Street near Giesbrecht Street.

Mayor Earl Funk is pleased to see building activity picking up in the city.

"It's been a great July. It was a very, very slow spring, a very slow start after a long, hard winter. But it's definitely happening now. And even as I talk to contractors, they're all anticipating a very busy fall, so I think our permit numbers will come into line and will catch up and will possibly surpass (last year). Just the other day, I was in the permitting office and they said that they are anticipating a very good August."

Meanwhile, Warkentin notes that non-residential construction is on par with last year at $11.5 million year-to-date.