Home Remodeling Popular as Construction Slowly Rebounds

Single-family home permits issued in July didn't increase from this time last year, but overall New Lenox already has more new home construction than in all of 2010.

Five single-family home permits were issued last month, bringing the total to 33 this year. That's compared to just 23 total in 2010 and 21 for all of 2009. The housing market crash stunted New Lenox’s rapid growth that occurred between during the first seven years of the decade, with the population increasing about 6,000 people from 2000 to 2007.

During a committee meeting Monday night, village trustees and staff reviewed the monthly building report and were happy to see what could be a rebound from "hitting the bottom," Trustee Ray Tuminello said.

Trustee Keith Madsen noted that while people aren't buying homes, they are investing in remodeling, perhaps to help sell their house or just to spruce it up. For example, there were 22 re-roofing permits issued in July.

But the big money comes from new construction permits, and the village has already passed its expectations for this year in regard to single-family homes. The village has also taken in $109,977 from commercial construction this year, but will add more with recent construction in the lots near .

Here’s a look at single-family home permits issued between 2007 and 2011: