FLORENCE — The value of new commercial construction in Florence County dropped this year, but landed in a safety net when H.J. Heinz Co. decided to build a facility near Florence, according to a county building report.
“We show a pretty stable community that’s able to move along despite everything else,” Florenec County Planning Director Bill Hoge said after his Tuesday report to the county planning commission.
So far this year, the county has issued 64 commercial building permits — less than half the 142 it had issued by this point in 2007.
The value of those permits, however, is more than $95 million — only a 7.5 percent drop from nearly $103 million in permits at this point last year.
Heinz is preparing for its 225,000-square-foot facility on 49 acres in the Pee Dee Touchstone Energy Commerce City to open during the summer. The investment, estimated at a total of $105 million, is expected to bring 350 jobs initially.
Hoge said the county’s commercial construction value also could rise as Monster, an online job recruitment and careers resource, prepares to submit its shell building and stormwater applications this month.
Single-family home construction has dropped locally, as it has around the nation, although the value of new duplexes in the county has nearly doubled this year, Hoge said.
In other business Tuesday, the planning commission unanimously recommended approval of a rezoning request to allow office space at South Irby Street and Industrial Park Boulevard.
The property, zoned for office and light industrial uses, will become a general commercial district if approved by Florence County Council. It already includes some offices as well as a rental residence and storage area.
Florence County building permits
Overall
2008 year-to-date: $231.8 million
2007 year-to-date: $275.8 million
Commercial
2008 year-to-date: $95.2 million
2007 year-to-date: $103 million
Single-family homes
2008 year-to-date: $49.3 million
2007 year-to-date: $70.2 million
Duplexes
2008 year-to-date: $4.4 million
2007 year-to-date: $2.1 million
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