By Jerry Creel, Community Development Director
This week in economic development, the news is about New Single Family Residential Homes. During this week, we have issued 3 building permits for new houses, and are reviewing plans for 4 more. Since the fiscal year began on October 1, 2013, we have issued 87 building permits for new single family homes, with many more on the way.
This week we also completed the final plan reviews for Saint Michael’s New Life Parish Center, and the Thomas Genin Restaurant. The piles have been installed for the new restaurant and the builders are moving forward with the foundation. “The Reef” Restaurant has completed the sheathing process and is still on track to open before “Crusin’ the Coast”. The Walmart Neighborhood Market on Pass Road is also on schedule to open in October.
We are currently reviewing commercial plans for emergency room renovations to the Biloxi Regional Hospital, and for the VIP area at the Beau Rivage’ Casino Resort. A review of our permit totals this week show that after 7.5 months this year, we are $19.8 Million Dollars ahead of our total construction valuation for all of 2013. We are averaging $1000 dollars more each month in permit fees, and our business license total has increased from 1879 in 2013 to 1950 in 2014.
