Permits have been issued for building of more than 600 multi-family units

It has been a summer of construction across Abbotsford, with more housing units built through July in nearly a decade.

Leading the way is construction of apartment and townhouse complexes, with more than double the amount of building usually seen through this point of the year.

Through July 2017, permits had been issued for 66 new multi-family buildings that, when complete, will house a total of 635 units.

That’s a big increase from the first seven months last year. While 48 permits were issued through July 2016, those buildings saw the creation of just 156 units. The city hasn’t seen so many multi-family units created through the first half of the year since 2008, when construction began on 773 units in 27 buildings.

When other projects that began in 2016 are factored in, a total of 1,494 housing units were under construction as of July, according to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

By far the largest project under construction is the Mahogany highrise on Gladwin Road and Bevan Avenue. When complete, that project will boast 151 units.

Building permits have been issued for the construction of five other apartment buildings:

n 1948 North Parallel Rd. – 44 units

n 1865 Salton Rd. – 66 units

n 3010 Gladwin Rd. – 48 units

n 1575 McCallum Rd. – 94 units

n 33540 Mayfair Ave. – 50 units

Several townhouse complexes are also under construction, the largest being at the site of the old Allwood Estates Mobile Home Park. So far this year, permits have been issued for the construction of 73 units there.

Developers are responding both to skyrocketing house prices and a rental market that last year was among the tightest in the country. It won’t be until November, though, whether it will be determined if there’s been any change in the latter indicator, when the CMHC releases their annual rental market report.

Permits have also been issued for the construction of 192 homes throughout the city. That figure is roughly in line with previous years.