By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The new home and new commercial building markets in Alabaster are catching up with last year’s numbers after a strong showing in August, according to data recently released by the Alabaster Fire Department’s Planning and Safety Division.

Alabaster City Council members reviewed the numbers during a late-September meeting, revealing some positive news about growth in the city.

Through the end of August, which is the most recent data available, the Planning and Safety Division issued 56 new home building permits for projects valued at a total of about $15.3 million. Of the 56 new home permits issued so far this year, 13 came in the month of August.

In comparison, the city had issued 76 such permits for new homes valued at a total of a little more than $18 million through the first eight months of 2016.

Alabaster’s residential addition and remodel market has surged since last year, according to the data.

Through the end of August, the city had issued 180 such permits for projects valued at a total of a little more than $3 million. During the same time period last year, the city had issued 152 residential addition or remodel permits for projects valued at a total of about $2.7 million.

The city’s commercial sector is also besting last year’s numbers, according to the Planning and Safety Division.

Through the end of August, the city had issued permits for 10 new commercial buildings for projects valued at a total of nearly $5.7 million. During the same time period last year, the city had issued nine new commercial building permits for projects valued at a total of about $5.2 million.

The commercial addition and remodel permit numbers are up significantly from last year.

At the end of August, Alabaster had issued 180 such permits for projects valued at a total of about $3.1 million.

In comparison, the city had issued 38 commercial addition and remodel permits last year for projects valued at a total of about $2.7 million.