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 2019, when he issued 169 permits valued at $22.7 million.
Of those, four were single-family home construction valued at $959,253.
Major projects permitted in 2019 were the Premium Minnesota Pork remodel at $4.2 million (of the $31 million total project), the city of Luverne wastewater treatment facility expansion and remodel at $14 million, the McDonald’s commercial remodel at $450,000, and the West Barck Street four-plex at $517,450 (based off a permitting formula, not actual construction cost).
The value of the 2019 construction projects was more than twice the value of permitted projects 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 building permits valued at $7.2 million.
Decade of growth shows nearly $119 million in permitted construction
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.
The construction included 74 single-family homes andindividual 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.
•Grand Stay Hotelnew 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.