Crown Point housing starts back on pace with pre-recession times
By Carrie Napoleon Post-Tribune correspondent January 12, 2013 12:44PM
Updated: February 14, 2013 6:45AM
CROWN POINT — Housing starts in the city are back on pace with the growth experienced prior to the bottoming out of the real estate market in 2008.
The city had 166 single-family home permits in 2012, just six shy of the 172 single-family homes permits issued in 2007, according to Christopher Meyers, planning administrator. A total 196 units, which includes townhome and duplex construction, were permitted in 2012 versus the 208 total units in 2007.
“The economy is starting to rebound and Crown Point is an indicator,” Meyers said.
This year’s numbers represent the gradual trend of steady increases in its housing starts since the market bottomed out in 2008. At that time new home building permits were at a low of 72. In 2009 those numbers inched forward to 79, then up to 92 in 2010. There were 107 single-family homes permitted in 2011.
The city experienced its all-time high in permits for single-family homes issued in 2005 with 295. There were 280 single-family permits issued in 2004 and 249 issued in 2006.
“A lot of individuals want to call Crown Point home due to the quality school systems, the quality of life, its location to Chicago and larger cities like Merrillville and Gary. It’s the hub of Lake County government,” Meyers said.
He said businesses like Franciscan St. Anthony Health, which has become one of the city’s largest employers with its satellite campuses, continue to grow bringing more workers to the city and more people interested in relocating to Crown Point. Activity this year was largely in subdivisions that had been previously platted but remained mostly dormant during the downturn.
