2020 Development Update
The 2020 building season has started with a boom! There were 162 new home construction building permits issued from January 2020 to August 2020 which includes 120 single-family detached and 42 single-family attached (townhomes) residential permits. This is compared to 113 new home construction permits this same period in 2019 representing a 43% increase. The subdivisions with the most construction activity during 2020 are: Grande Reserve (Single-Family), Raintree Village (Single-Family and Townhomes), Kendall Marketplace (Townhomes) and Ashley Pointe (Single-Family).
Overall, the City processed approximately 1,200 building permits since January 2020. Roofing and siding permits were still higher than normal, totaling nearly 300, but slightly lower than the 440 permits issued during the peak storm season of fall/winter 2019.
New commercial projects opened, under construction or approved include: Dunkin’ (part of the Lenny’s Gas N Wash); Popeye’s (fast-food chain restaurant), Hacienda Real (table-service Mexican restaurant in Kendall Crossing), Smoothie King (fast-casual beverage shop in Kendall Marketplace) and Verizon (stand-alone retail building in Kendall Marketplace).
Finally, in response to the pandemic, the Building Department implemented early COVID-19 protocols and guidelines for interior building inspections which encouraged electronic building permit submittals and conducted virtual inspections.