Permits for new homes up slightly in city, county

The number of building permits issued by Washington County and the city of Weiser for new single family homes is up slightly so far this year compared to 2018.
 While the furious pace of home-building in Boise continues unabated, and record prices continue to be set, slow and steady more aptly describes residential construction activity in Washington County.
 The county’s planning and zoning department issued 19 building permits from January through August of this year for new single family homes with a total construction value of $2.26 million. The number of permits and the value of residential construction is higher this year than last.
 County building inspector Chad Brock said much of the home-building activity that has taken place this year has been north of Weiser around Midvale and Cambridge.
 During the same period in 2018, the county issued 13 building permits for new homes with a total construction value of $2.05 million.
 In the city of Weiser, there have been six building permits issued for new single family homes and one permit for a four-plex issued from January through August. The total construction value was pegged at $1.2 million.     
 Of that amount, the construction value of the four-plex accounted for $430,000. It did not add new housing in Weiser and replaced the four-plex at the Wildwood Apartments that burned in a fire in December of 2018.
 During the same period in 2018, the city issued permits for five homes with a total construction value of $488,964.
 Much of the residential building in the city has been infill on lots scattered around town. The city has no pending subdivisions planned by developers.
 City building inspector Dave Loos said there are not that many vacant lots left in town to build on and homes are going up “basically wherever they can find lots.”
 The final phase of the Autumn Court subdivision is nearing completion as the project is built out. The residential development has been around for years and is located on Pioneer Road and immediately to the west of the Fred Hust rodeo arena.
 Local real estate officials say the inventory of new and existing homes is low in Weiser and prices are going up.     
 There were only two building permits for new homes issued by the city in 2017. Both homes were located on Park Street and each had a construction value of $108,702, according to city records.