A good way to measure growth over time is to track the number of building permits issued for construction.
Luverne building official Chad McClure compiled numbers for 2020, when he issued 197 permits valued at $9.8 million.
Of those, six were single-family home construction valued at $1,245,228, and comprised nearly 13 percent of permit valuations last year. McClure points out that these valuations don’t reflect actual cost; they’re based on formulation for permitting purposes only.
Major projects permitted in 2020 were the Premium Minnesota Pork new commercial building at $4.5 million, the HRA (Blue Mound Towers) remodel at $1.1 million, the Subway new commercial on South Highway 75 at $350,000 and the Henning Construction new commercial building at $150,000.
While 2020 continues a tradition of steady growth in Luverne, 2019 was a standout year with 169 permits valued at $22.7 million.
Among the big-ticket items permitted that year was the city of Luverne wastewater treatment facility expansion and remodel at $14 million.
The value of the 2019 construction projects was more than twice the value of permitted projects last year and in recent years.
For example, 2018 had 243 permits valued at $6.9 million, 2017 had 245 valued at $10 million, 2016 had 257 valued at $9.6 million and 2015 had 239 permits valued at $7.2 million.
$129 million in permitted construction since 2010
At the end of 2019, McClure tallied permits over the past decade and found 2,277 permitted projects from 2010 through 2019, and these projects had a total estimated construction value of $118,843,164.
That’s in addition to the 2020 valuations.
The construction included 74 single-family homes and individual twin-home units, served with private utilities.
Some major projects valued in excess of $1 million contributed to the 10-year totals of nearly $119 million. They are:
•American Reformed Church addition in 2010 at $3.2 million.
•Three Gevo/Agri-energy expansion projects in 2011 at $2.5 million, 2012 at $21 million and 2013 at $6.9 million.
•GrandStay Hotel new construction in 2012 at $2.8 million.
•Herman Motor Company new construction in 2014 at $1.5 million.
•Luverne Body Shop new construction in 2016 at $1.3 million.
•C & B Operations (John Deere dealership) addition and remodel in 2017 at $4.1 million.
•Premium Minnesota Pork remodel in 2019 at $4.3 million (of the planned $31 million construction yet to be permitted).
•City of Luverne wastewater treatment facility expansion/remodel in 2019 at $14 million.