Skip to main content

Hammering at progress

Subhead
Luverne building activity shows 'vibrant growth'
By
Lori Sorenson

The local construction industry has been steadily busy over the past several years, according to data from the Luverne building and zoning office.
“Looking at current and past data, it appears for the most part consistent,” said Luverne Building Official Chad McClure about the city’s building permits.
If it seems like there’s always something under construction in Luverne, that’s because there is.
Last year there were 239 permits issued for construction projects totaling $7.2 million.
Last year’s construction in Luverne included two single family homes, a twin home, fermenter tank at the ethanol plant, HVAC update at the high school, new roof on the Veterans Home, commercial remodel of the former Lewis Building for Southwestern Mental Health and a new office building for Schwartz Farms north of Papik Motors.
Last year was a relatively big construction year compared with 190 permits issued in 2014 for $5.9 million worth of projects and 211 permits for $10.5 million in 2013.
There was a significant spike in 2012 with 245 permits issued for nearly $30 million worth of work. A substantial project at the ethanol plant (to convert the facility to isobutanol production) affects a good share of 2012’s dollar amount, but there were other projects that year, too.
According to Luverne City Administrator John Call, the building permit data indicate a thriving economy.
“The last five years have an average of $12 million per year in permits,” Call said.
“For a city the size and tax base of Luverne, this shows very healthy vibrant growth.”
 
Big year in 1997 featured school and ethanol plant
Looking at the data in recent history, 1997 stands out as a landmark year for building permits in Luverne.
That year there were 388 permits issued with a total valuation of $32,125,923.
The two biggest projects, the Luverne Elementary School and the ethanol plant, together accounted for about $25 million of the $32 million that year.
Other commercial projects in 1997 with values over $100,000 were the new Pamida building, Glen's Food Center addition, Family Drug building, Minnwest Bank addition, Grace Lutheran Church (addition, remodeling and elevator), Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center remodeling and sprinkler system expansion, Farmers Union Co-op Oil Co. storage tank and service pump replacements and R&R Enterprise repairs of a building damaged by snow in 1996-97.
Other building permits in 1997 included 17 single-family homes (two in the Sybesma Addition and 15 in the Evergreen First and Second additions). 
Three duplexes are listed among the 1997 permits (one on North Spring Street and two on Cashin Drive). 
Four six-plexes went up that year in the Sybesma Subdivision and one 28-unit apartment building was built as the Good Samaritan Society's Congregate Living Apartments.
In 1991, the year that the Minnesota Veterans Home was built, the year's permits totaled $8,307,486. The 1991 total was the closest Luverne had reached to the 1997 valuation of $32 million.

You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.