County Officials Say Building Permits & Land Values On The RiseCounty Officials Say Building Permits & Land Values On The Rise

4/15/13 - The latest statistics released by county officials confirm that the local economy has seen a positive turn-around, with both building permits and property values on the rise. Despite what she called “very good news” for the county, Carol Griffith, chairwoman of the county Board of Commissioners, said it was a guarded optimism and felt that overall the economy is still in a fragile state. Among the statistics shared with the media on Friday was 6-year analysis of first-quarter residential and commercial building. In the first three months of 2013, the county issued 400 such permits, the highest total since 2006 before the recession hit. Griffith, who is also the co-owner of ERA Griffith Realty in Brighton and President Elect of the Michigan Association of Realtors, said most of the permits were for new construction, but a sizable number were for remodeling and other construction on already-existing structures. Still, she said the ratio had changed greatly from the depths of the recession in 2009 when the vast majority of permits were for remodeling. Also on the rise were equalized values of property in the county, the first time that’s happened in four years. Another area of pride for officials is the Livingston County Spencer J. Hardy Airport, which County Administrator Belinda Peters said saw its highest level ever of jet-fuel sales in March compared to previous years. She was also encouraged by the recent visit of two Gulfstream IV jets to the airport, which she said is able to offer a lower price for fuel than in Oakland County and elsewhere. The newly-constructed airport terminal is expected to be completed next month with a grand opening in late May being planned. (JK)