The Saint John region continues to grow.
The region has more than doubled housing starts (new builds) from pre-pandemic levels and is outperforming 2021 by 80 per cent year-to-date.
“We saw housing starts from January 1 to June 30, 2022, we saw 318 housing starts versus 177 in 2021, and in 2019 the number of housing starts from January to June was 159, so we are seeing if we look at the history growth over year after year,” said Paulette Hicks, CEO of Envision Saint John: The Regional Growth Agency.
The amount of building permits being issued to residents is also seeing an increase.
From January to June 2022, building permits have increased nearly 40 per cent above pre-pandemic numbers.
With housing starts and building permits seeing a surge in the region, Hicks mentioned Saint John and the surrounding area is heading in the right direction.
“To date, the region is having its best year for new housing starts, and the City of Saint John is experiencing its highest share of new units being built in the last decade.”
“So, I think it’s just looking at the data to say, ‘what is this telling us?,’ It is telling us that there is a demand, interest, and there is growth happening not only in Saint John, but also in the region,” continued Hicks.
However, with three months of the construction season now complete, the Saint John region only saw a roughly five per cent difference from other major cities.
“So, that’s not significant, so we’re on par … however, I think when you do look at this region you do see the activity, the announcements, and the cranes in the air, so you are seeing the strength of development,” added Hicks.
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