Residential construction booms in 2002

By Staff
Thomas Tingle
Record Managing Editor
2002 was an excellent year for residential construction in Madison.
Madison Community Development Department Director Bob Atallo said more than 529 single-family home building permits were issued from Jan. 1 to Dec. 5, totaling more than $35.3 million.
Meanwhile, commercial growth in Madison during 2002 has been deemed average.
Atallo said the Balch Road area of Madison experienced the most residential growth during 2002. Among the new subdivisions developed in the area include Buckingham, Franklin Station, Georgetown, and Ashley Green. County Line Road is also one of the fastest growing residential areas in Madison.
"We've estimated that we will have issued permits for 750 residential units by the end of the year – about 600 single-family units and 150 apartment units," Atallo said. "This is not a record, but it is about the fastest growth we can handle given our resources."
Atallo noted that the most residential growth experienced in Madison in 2002 occurred during the months of January through April and again in August.
"One of the contributing factors to our continued residential growth is our school system, in my opinion," Atallo said. "It is just head and shoulders above any in North Alabama. Also, low interest rates have been a huge contributor."
Alabama Psychiatric, located on the Hughes Road extension, is the largest commercial building permit issued in 2002 by the Community Development Department. Atallo said Madison Boulevard experienced the most commercial growth during the year – noting the development of the Sentry Center, out-parcels at the Wal-Mart shopping center, and a strip of new office buildings near Flagstone Apartments.
"Commercial development in Madison was all spread out during 2002," Atallo said. "We've got some restaurants on the drawing board and some small businesses, but nothing large as of now slated for 2003."