Cloverleaf Expansion Largest Commercial Project in 2010
Constitution-Tribune
Saturday, January 8, 2011

C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz-Ripley

CAPTION: Commercial building slowed last year compared to 2009, but here at Cloverleaf Cold Storage Company, the business added a 50,000 square-foot refrigerator/frozen storage area. The addition, measuring 200 feet by 250 feet is 44 feet tall and is capable of holding 15 million pounds of food product. The company has 67 full-time employees.

The number of building permits in the city of Chillicothe was down for 2010 when compared to the two previous years; however, the estimated total residential building costs were higher last year than in 2009.

Commercial permits were substantially lower during 2010, when compared to the two previous years. Coming on the heels of the construction of the Quizno's/Anytime Fitness Center complex among projects in 2008 and the Comfort Inn and Suites in 2009, commercial building was at $1,061,476 in 2010, compared to 2009's figure of $8,839,457 and 2008’s $3,329,642. The largest commercial building project taking place in 2010 was a 50,000-square-foot addition to Cloverleaf Cold Storage Company in the industrial park.

About one-fourth of all city-issued permits in 2010 were building permits according to year-end figures released by the Chillicothe office of engineering, code and zoning enforcement. Of the 437 total permits issued, 111 were building permits (which would have included any type of new construction such as a new building, a room addition to a house, a shed, etc.)

The estimated building costs were slightly more for residential permits as compared to commercial permits. Residential projects (construction of seven new homes) were estimated at $1,204,500 commercial projects (basically additions to four businesses) was $1,061,476, producing an overall $2,265,976 in projects which were granted permits in 2010. The largest residential permit was for $494,500 and the largest commercial permit was for $621,826.

The next largest area of approved permits were for digging, where 96 permits were granted. Digging permits are necessary for anyone wanting to do any kind of digging, such as for a foundation or utility lines.

The next largest area of approved permits were for concrete and flat work, for which 91 permits were granted. Concrete and flat work would include projects such as drive ways, parking lots, patios.

There were 45 permit requests for signs last year which would be necessary for anyone wanting to place a new sign or temporary sign, banners, and the like.

There were 35 permit requests for fencing issued last year and 19 requests for demolition in 2010. The demolition projects included the old buildings which most recently housed County Carpets and Furniture and the demolition of an apartment building. Demolition of the apartment building has not yet taken place but the permit was granted in 2010.

Residential projects accounted for $1,864,215 in 2008, $828,339 in 2009, and $1,204,500 in 2010, according to owners' estimated costs.

The combined total valuation of residential and commercial projects, based on owners' estimated costs, were $5,193,857 in 2008, $9,667,796 in 2009, and $2,265,976 in 2010.