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Industrial development down dramatically By Tim Foran METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP 7 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, October 14, 2009 Industrial development in Halton declined 91 per cent in the second quarter from the record levels seen in the same time period the year before. Specifically, the total construction value for industrial development was about $8 million during the second quarter (April-June) 2009, compared to almost $92 million during the same period the previous year, according to a report on business development reviewed by regional council recently. "The challenging economic climate for the industrial sector has dramatically slowed down speculative developments," the staff report stated. It has also apparently resulted in a drop in commercial building as well, which was down 78.6 per cent. The construction value of investments in the commercial sector totalled about $21 million in the second quarter of this year, compared to about $98 million in the same time period in 2008. Residential construction value dropped 44 per cent, with about $113 million invested into new homes in the second quarter of this year, compared to more than $200 million in the same time period in 2008. The slowdown in new homebuilding is actually a reflection of an earlier sales market, which went through a rough patch in the latter parts of 2008. Sales of new low-rise homes have bounced back since this past spring in the fast growing areas of Oakville and Milton, according to industry statistics. Public sector construction has been on an enormous rise in Halton, however. There was close to $52 million in construction value in the institutional sector in the second quarter of this year, compared to only $1.2 million in the same time period in 2008. This was the result of several large developments including $22 million for the new McMaster satellite campus in Burlington, as well as new arenas in Oakville and Burlington. The institutional sector is also expected to continue strong for the next year-and-a-half thanks to government stimulus money, the report noted. The two upper levels of government have committed to giving Halton and the four lower tier municipalities more than $320 million in infrastructure-related funding, with construction on most projects expected to take place throughout 2010. The overall population in Halton at the second quarter of this year was about 480,000, a 2.7 per cent increase from the year before. While unemployment rates grew in both the Toronto and Hamilton census metropolitan areas, in which Halton's municipalities are located, the total number of employed in Halton grew 3.2 per cent from the second quarter of 2008 to the second quarter of this year. There are now 255,000 workers in Halton, according to the report. The average household income in Halton grew a healthy 11.3 per cent to $126,000 in the second quarter of this year, compared to $113,000 in the same time period in 2008. Though the staff report attributes the industrial development slowdown to the poor global and national economy, it could reinforce critics who have said the Region's development charges (DC) are an obstacle to attracting new industry. In July, some industrial developers complained about the Region's decision to not create a new DCs bylaw until 2011. The industrial development community is eager for the Region to start differentiating DCs it places on non-residential builders, into separate categories for industry and office/retail, for example. The Town of Milton did that this past summer for its own local DC, and it resulted in a rise in the charges for retail builders, but basically no increase to industrial developers. "To remind council of this issue, a one million square foot industrial (warehouse) building will have approximately 250 employees while a one million sq. ft. office building will have approximately 6,500 employees," Phil King, president of Orland Corporation, wrote to regional council on the issue. "However, an industrial building (warehouse) and office building pay the same charge under the current bylaw." King said the DC on such a building in Halton are $17 million, while in Guelph they're only $3 million. However, during the development of the Region's current DC bylaw last year, council heard from a number of people expressing the viewpoint that all growth should pay for itself and that DC should not be lowered if it meant taxpayers would have to subsidize whatever was not collected. Though current DC discounts for industrial developers are being phased out by next year, the Region does assist the sector in another way. The Region has provided frontend financing to extend sewer and water pipes (servicing) to employment areas, something it doesn't do for residential areas. Considered an employment investment strategy, the Region initiated this policy in 2003 when it invested $28.2 million -- to be paid back from DC over 10 years -- for employment zones in Milton and Halton Hills, according to a treasurer's report. About $19 million plus carrying costs has been recouped already thanks to the construction of eight million square feet of new buildings in those areas, the report states. C A N A D A' S L A R G E S T P R I V A T E S C H O O L E X P O S PRESENTED BY FOOT PAIN? Roger D. Newell, D. Pod. M., & Associates · over 30 years in practice · former teacher, Toronto General Hospital · former consultant, Ontario Ministry of Health Recognize These Problems? 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