By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – New commercial and residential construction in Alabaster is up significantly – both in numbers and valuation – through the first two months of 2017 when compared with the same time last year.

The Alabaster Fire Department’s Planning and Safety Division recently released its report detailing building permits issued through the end of February.

The Planning and Safety Division issued 12 new home permits in February for projects valued at a total of $3.2 million, which was also the city’s year-to-date total through Feb. 28. Through the first two months of 2016, the city had issued 10 new home building permits for projects valued at a total of about $1.8 million.

The number of residential addition and remodel projects was also up significantly compared to last year.

Through the first two months of this year, the city had issued 36 residential addition or remodel permits for projects valued at a total of $756,890. Through the end of February 2016, the city had issued 26 such permits for projects valued at a total of $342,037.

In the new commercial building sector, the city had issued a total of two permits through the end of February for projects valued at a total of more than $1.8 million. During the same time period last year, the city had not issued any new commercial building permits.

Commercial addition and remodels were slightly down from last year, as the city had issued seven such permits for projects valued at a total of $340,656 through the end of February. During the same time period last year, Alabaster had issued 16 commercial addition or remodel permits for projects valued at a total of $342,037.