By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The number of new homes being built in Alabaster is still matching last year’s numbers, while the value of the new commercial building market is still significantly higher than 2017, according to numbers recently released by the Alabaster Fire Department’s Building and Fire Prevention Services Department.

City Council members recently reviewed the department’s year-to-date numbers through the end of August, revealing the markets are continuing their upward trend for the year.

In August, the city issued permits for nine new homes valued at a total of about $3.2 million, bringing the year-to-date total at the end of August to 49 new homes valued at a total of about $15.2 million.

In comparison, the city had issued 57 new home building permits through the first eight months of 2017 for projects valued at a total of about $15.5 million.

The city’s residential addition and remodel market is still lagging slightly behind the total value of last year’s projects. Through the end of August, the city had issued 212 residential addition or remodel permits for projects valued at a total of about $2.6 million, compared to 180 such permits for projects valued at a total of slightly more than $3 million.

The commercial building sector is up significantly in total value compared with 2017, according to the department.

At the end of August, the city had issued permits for seven new commercial buildings for projects valued at a total of about $7.8 million, compared to 10 such permits for projects valued at a total of about $5.7 million during the same time period in 2017.

Alabaster’s commercial addition and remodel market is up the most this year, by far.

At the end of August, the city had issued 25 commercial addition or remodel permits for projects valued at a total of slightly more than $12 million. In comparison, the city had issued 27 such permits for projects valued at a total of about $3.3 million through the first eight months of 2017.