A new duplex under construction at Saxony Village.

The 1998 construction year will go down as a "good one" in Cape Girardeau.

During the first nine months, more than 440 permits worth more than $34.1 million were recorded by the Cape Girardeau Inspection Services Division.

The dollar figure has already surpassed 1997, which was the city's fifth best building year, said Richard Murray, director of the inspection services division, which issues permits in all categories -- building, electrical, plumbing and others.

"This has been a great construction year so far," he said. "All indicators early on pointed to a lot of activity here. We were aware that contracts would be awarded for educational buildings and we felt the home market would be good."

Housing market strong

The housing market has been strong -- 68 new homes, four duplexes and three apartment buildings with a total of 63 units.

New commercial buildings -- more than 25 of them -- and three big public school facilities have added to the totals.

One of the largest projects to date is the start of Phase II in the development of Saxon Village retirement complex by the Lutheran Home.

With 24 apartments, 10 duplexes and 40 assisted living suites the Lutheran Nursing Home is a complete retirement complex.

"Phase I of Saxony Village is complete," said spokesman Scott Sprandel. "We're looking to Phase II."

Phase II calls for another 48 apartments. A permit for half of those apartments was obtained last month. The $1.8 million permit in September for the 24 new units is the second-largest permit filed this year.

Largest permit

The largest single permit was that for $3.4 million, by the Cape Girardeau public schools for a new elementary school building at 1829 N. Sprigg.

Two more large school projects have added another $3.2 million to the year's totals.

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education approved a $1.76 million bid for extensive additions and renovations to Jefferson Elementary School and $1.44 million bid for improvements to Cape Central Junior High.

Housing has provided the largest chunk of money to the construction totals.

The 68 new homes during the first three quarters of the year have averaged more than $140,000, for a grand total of more than $10.5 million. Apartments and duplexes, accounting for 72 living units, have added another $4.3 million.

Commercial buildings continue to add big totals to the list. Twenty-seven new commercial buildings have been started, at a permit cost of more than $6.5 million. Another $5 million-plus is being spent on business and home expansions and other projects.

Big years in 90s

"We may not reach a record year this year," said Murray, "but we should approach record totals."

The record construction year for Cape Girardeau came in 1992, when two giant medical center projects shoved the year's total above the $47 million mark, at $47.9 million.

Two more $40 million years are on the 1990s list -- $47.6 million in 1990, and $44.3 million in 1995.

Murray said, "1996 was one of our great years. We finished the year with more than 500 building permits valued at $47.6 million." Those totals included 86 new homes and 18 apartment units, at a combined value of more than $14 million and 30 new commercial buildings at a value of $26.1 million.

Murray likes the look of the nine-month totals, saying: "We could pass the 500-permit level, and nineteen ninety-eight is already fifth on the all-time construction dollar list, at $34.1, behind the fourth best year of $38.9 million in 1994.

The city expects the start of more homes in the next three months, and there are some other projects in the making, including a four-unit condominium for the downtown area and some commercial renovations.

Construction totals here do not include the city's street and sewer improvements, nor totals on the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge, which is now under construction, nor Southeast Missouri construction projects.

Another big construction project is under way along U.S. 61, west of Interstate 55, where the new Jackson Wal-Mart Supercenter is being built.

Statewide totals

In Missouri, total construction through the first eight months of the year is down 2 percent, to about 3.9 billion, from the $4 billion during the same period of time a year ago.

In Missouri, residential building is up 6 percent to $1.86 billion, but commercial, manufacturing and educational construction is down 11 percent at $1.3 billion, compared to $1.5 billion at this time a year ago.

The nonbuilding category -- bridges, highways, streets -- is also down, 2 percent.

Cape Girardeau permits

Cape Girardeau building permits, January through September:

Single family residences, 68.

Two-family homes/units, 4/8.

Apartments/total units, 3/63.

Carports/garages/pools, 87.

Commercial buildings, 27.

Signs, 64.

Wrecking, 50.

Total permits, 430

Total residential permit costs, $10.5 million; apartments, $4.3 million; commercial buildings, $6.5 million; educational facilities, $6.9 million; expansions, additions, miscellaneous, $5.8 million.

Total permit costs, first nine months, $34.9 million, up from $23.8 million during the same period a year ago.

1990s construction

Construction in Cape Girardeau during the 1990s.

1990: $25.6 million.

1991: $31.7 million.

1992: $47.9 million.

1993: $24.1 million.

1994: $38.9 million.

1995: $44.3 million.

1996: $47.6 million.

1997: $33.3 million.

*1998: $34.1 million.

Total: $327.5 million

*First nine months.