Gainesville/Hall building activity

GAINESVILLE - For the second month in a row, construction permits issued in Gainesville were bosltered by commercial/industrial activity.

Thirty-two such permits - for stores and customer service and additions and renovations - were okayed in February for work expected to cost more than $7.6 million.

In January, the commercial/industrial category in the city accounted for more tha $17 million worth of construction.

The number of new houses okayed for construction in the county last month increased by 22. Ninety-three permits were approved by Gainesville/Hall County Building Services.

In the city of Gainesville, five permits were approved for new, single-family homes in February. In January, an usually high number - 41 - had been approved, reflecting plans for a couple of new subdivisions in the city.