Courtesy / City of Auburn
The chart depicts the rise in construction value in all years except 2020.
July 1, 2022
Auburn, 'America's YIMBYest city,' sees new high in construction permits
FILE PHOTO / TIM GREENWAY
Auburn’s new Five Guys restaurant, photographed a few days before its June 6 grand opening, is part of the city’s burgeoning development activity.
By Staff
Commercial and residential development is booming in Auburn, with the arrival of chain stores, expansion of local factories, and national headlines for the city as America’s “YIMBYest,” saying “Yes in My Backyard” to new development.
Mayor Jason Levesque has aggressively courted development, challenging developers to build 2,000 new housing units by 2025. He has said his goal for the city of 24,000 is to boost its population by 25%.
Now Auburn has new numbers to back up its efforts.
For the second fiscal year in a row, Auburn has bested its record for permitted construction value and investment, with permits for more than $74 million in construction costs, the city said Thursday.
Similarly, the planning and permitting team set a workload record for permitting and inspection.
On top of the $74 million is the single largest permit of the year — a new $110 million high school that’s currently under construction.
Permitted construction for fiscal year 2022 totals $184.5 million, which includes the new Edward Little High School, which should be completed for the fall 2023 semester.
“Next year is looking strong as well,” Eric Cousens, Auburn’s director of planning, said in a news release. “If half the projects in current discussion move forward, I’m confident we will see our third consecutive record year.”
Data from January 2021 through June 2022 show that the city approved 106 new one- and two-family homes, as well as 285 new apartments, for a total of 391 new units.
The total indicates progress toward the city council’s goal of 2,000 new units in five years.
“With more than 1,500 new residences in discussion, next year looks strong for continued growth,” said Cousens.
City Manager Phil Crowell said the growth was deliberately planned.
“The city’s 2019 strategic plan and recently updated comprehensive plan placed high priority and clear focus on issues like housing, workforce development, walkability, recreation and quality of life,” he said.
The city has handled a record number of permits in four out of the last five years.
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