Home construction in unincorporated Pitkin County, which took a recession-fueled nose dive in 2009, has yet to show any sign of rebounding, resulting in additional staff cuts in the county’s Community Development Department.
The department has trimmed the equivalent of roughly nine full-time positions — most in the past two years — in response to the drop in demand for its planning, building and inspection services.
The construction industry in Pitkin County, dominated by residential projects, dropped from 137 projects worth $130.3 million in 2008 to 93 projects worth $71.9 million in 2009, according to building permit data.
Last year, 102 residential building permits worth $76.2 million in construction were recorded, and for the first half of this year, 38 permits were issued for $30.9 million worth of work. The projects include new construction, additions and remodeling jobs.
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