Based on the latest reports from the CNMI Department of Commerce, the 22 permits issued indicated a 33 percent drop compared to the 33 building permits DPW issued in the first quarter of 2009.
The 22 building permits issued early this year had a total value of $1.02 million. Seven of the issued permits were for commercial buildings with a total value of $60,000, 13 permits were issued for residential buildings with a total value of $840,000, and two permits were for government buildings with a value of $120,000.
The 33 building permits DPW issued in the first quarter of 2009 had a total value of $2.33 million. 15 permits were issued for commercial buildings for the same period last year with a total value of $740,000, 11 permits were issued for residential buildings with a value of $1 million, and seven permits were issued for government buildings with a value of $590,000.
DPW has been issuing a decreasing number of building permits for commercial, residential and government buildings each year.
The 350 commercial and residential building permits issued in 2005 dipped to 292 in 2006. DPW issued 238 building permits in 2007 which decreased to 234 in 2008, and dropped further in 2009 to only 144 total building permits.
Last year’s 144 permits had a total value of $27.01 million. 74 permits were issued for commercial buildings with a value of $13.07 million while 50 permits were issued for the construction of residential buildings with a total value of $4.01 million. 20 permits were issued for government buildings with a total value of $9.94 million.
