Strong start to the new year for new housing

GAINESVILLE - New housing starts in Hall County are off to a strong start this year.

In the first two months of the year, 250 permits were issued for new, single-family structures in unincorporated parts of the county. According to Gainesville-Hall County Building Services, 146 were issued last month and 104 in February. Last month's total was larger than for any single month in all of 2004.

Meanwhile, in the city of Gainesville last month, construction activity was bolstered by three commercial/industrial permits for projects expected to cost a total of $24.3 million.

One is for $17.5 million for the Northeast Georgia Medical Center's new energy plant; another is fora $1.5 million expansion of Lanier Color; and, the other is for a $5.3 million expansion of Fieldale Farms' Gainesville facility.