Single family detached housing starts rose more than 16% compared to last year during the first half of 2010, according to the Pittsburgh Homebuilding Report. The pickup in new home permits in May and June is the first positive sign in almost three years, and it obviously was happening without aid from the tax credit. More than just the volume increase – which was fairly small – the better sign was seeing builders who had largely disappeared for a year or more get some new business.
During the January through June period 810 permits were issued for single-family detached units, up from 697 during the same period last year. Attached units declined more steeply, with 325 units started compared to 614 during the first half of 2009. The overall housing construction market was down 13.4%.
Tempering the optimistic side of the data is the surprising drop-off in attached housing. The numbers last year included the permits for a large market-rate Hope VI project so that may have skewed the 2009 numbers; however, the demographics really favor this kind of product so you might expect to see a recovery in villas and quad homes first.
Non-residential construction was down 13% compared to the same period last year, but contracting volume was up over 200% from the first quarter of 2010. Contracting during January-June was $1.13 billion, down from $1.3 billion in 2009. Most of the larger projects started were publicly funded so far this year. During the past 45 days or so there has been an improvement in the amount of private sector projects being bid but the market remains hypercompetitive and there are fewer opportunities for the larger firms in the region.
The improved global economic picture has helped manufacturers pull the trigger on some of the large industrial projects that have been pending. AK Steel has contracted its $140 million upgrade and USS Clairton Works is preparing to start roughly $450 of the $1 billion it has planned to invest in its coke batteries. Allegheny Ludlum selected an engineer for its mill equipment, which should signal the renewal of their plans for a new $1.2 billion plant in Brackenridge. Even with the industrial projects included the volume for 2010 should remain below $3 billion.
The top municipalities for new permits:
| Municipality | #SFD | #SFA | Total |
| Single-Family Detached | |||
| Jefferson Hills | 41 | 8 | 49 |
| Peters Township | 38 | 0 | 38 |
| South Fayette Township | 37 | 7 | 44 |
| Adams Township | 36 | 24 | 60 |
| Cranberry Township | 36 | 22 | 58 |
| Moon Township | 34 | 6 | 40 |
| North Huntingdon Township | 29 | 4 | 33 |
| Franklin Park | 27 | 4 | 31 |
| Pittsburgh | 26 | 37 | 63 |
| Robinson Township | 26 | 0 | 26 |
| Single-Family Attached | |||
| Pittsburgh | 26 | 37 | 63 |
| Chippewa Township | 3 | 28 | 31 |
| Adams Township | 36 | 24 | 31 |
| Ohio Township | 24 | 23 | 47 |
| Cranberry Township | 36 | 22 | 58 |
| Total Pittsburgh MSA 2010:2 | 810 | 325 | 1,135 |
| Total Pittsburgh MSA 2009:2 | 697 | 614 | 1,311 |
| % Change | 16.2% | -47.1% | -13.4% |
| By County | SFD | SFA | Total |
| Allegheny | 385 | 175 | 560 |
| Beaver | 61 | 40 | 101 |
| Butler | 117 | 58 | 175 |
| Fayette | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| Washington | 112 | 30 | 142 |
| Westmoreland | 114 | 22 | 136 |