CUE BOB THE BUILDER THEME SONG. The new Marshfield Clinic hospital has helped push the value of new construction in Eau Claire toward a record this year.

Construction in Eau Claire is occurring at a record-breaking pace this year, with the value of permits issued by the city topping $177 million as of the end of July. That’s the second-highest annual development total in the city’s history, and there are still five months to go in the year.

“I think there’s a lot of confidence in the economy right now.” – Mike Schatz, City of Eau Claire economic development director

Already strong commercial, residential, and industrial development totals have been bolstered by the $90 million Marshfield Hospital and Cancer Center project, according to figures compiled by the city’s Department of Community Development. During the first half of the year alone, permits were issued for construction worth $159.1 million, virtually equaling the total for the permits issued in all of 2016. At the current pace, final figures for 2017 seem destined to break the all-time record of $197.6 million, which was set in 2009.

But Mike Schatz, the city’s economic development director, says he isn’t surprised by the building boom. “Not with all the things that are going on in the community,” he said. “We were expecting it to be a big year.” In fact, several pending project – including plans to build a Fleet Farm on Highway 93 and a newly approved housing development on the north side – likely will drive the total higher in the near future.

Schatz says the community is riding a wave of positive developments and small businesses are growing. “I think there’s a lot of confidence in the economy right now,” he says. “You’re seeing single-family housing coming back from the pre-recession time. Each year it seems to get a little better.”

In addition to the Marshfield Hospital – which is being built on West Clairemont Avenue and is expected to open in 2018 – other large-scale projects are ongoing in the city, including continued upgrades to Mayo Clinic Health System, an office building on Owen Ayres Court, a mixed-used building on Keystone Crossing, and projects at properties owned by Xcel Energy and Market and Johnson.

And the year’s record-breaking pace isn’t due to big projects alone: “All categories of development are seeing strong, consistent numbers,” adds Ray French, business assistance specialist with the city. Just over 2,000 building permits of all types had been issued as of the end of July, exceeding the total as of the same time last year by more than 100. “This demonstrates our city’s robust development activity and the continued investments by business owners and home owners in their properties,” French says.

Total valuation for industrial development was $17.9 million through July, already topping the $10.4 million total from all of 2016. Likewise, the value of commercial and office projects has reached $130.9 million this year, soaring past the $94.4 million total for last year (which included $41 million for the Confluence Performing Arts Center).

The one major area in which 2017 totals trail those from last year is residential: $24.1 million worth of residential permits have been issued, compared with $46.1 million in all of last year. One factor may be the value of the homes being built: The average permit value for one- and two-family homes issued this year has been $258,000, lower than last year’s average of $277,000. Overall, permits have been issued for a total of 141 residential units, exceeding the total from the same time last year. This indicates that residential construction is still relatively strong. While residential development for the year hasn’t been mapped, French says it has been strong on the east, north, and south sides of the city.