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By Ashley Fuller
Cherokee Tribune Staff Writer
After a month of growth, housing starts in Cherokee County tumbled in April and experts say an upward trend likely is months away.
The number of new houses under construction in the county continues to trail well behind last year's pace.
County and city building departments issued 108 single-family housing permits in April, down from 123 permits issued in March and 206 issued in April of last year.
So far this year, the building departments have issued 432 single-family permits, less than half the 966 issued through the same time last year.
Mike Shina, president of the Cherokee chapter of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, said despite the dip, the local market is doing relatively well.
"It still appears that Cherokee is in a better position than other counties," he said. "The inventory is declining and getting to healthier levels."
The Cherokee County Building Department, which covers the unincorporated areas of the county as well as the city of Waleska, issued 60 single-family permits last month, up slightly from 58 issued in March, but down from 115 issued in April of last year.
The county has issued 244 permits so far this year, a decrease from 523 permits issued by this time last year.
Buzz Ahrens, chairman of the county board of commissioners, said he expects the downward trend to continue for another 12 to 15 months.
"No one in the financial community or development community sees any reason for a dramatic change until this time next year," he said. "We sure would love to see it be shorter."
Ahrens said his bigger concern is for the people and families impacted by the slowdown.
"There is not a lot we can do for them," he said. "That is the frustration."
Woodstock's building department issued 14 single-family permits last month, down slightly from 16 issued in March but up from 11 issued in April last year.
This year so far, the city has issued 43 permits, less than half the 101 issued by this time last year.
Canton issued 13 single-family permits in April, a drop from both 25 issued in March and 42 issued in April last year.
So far this year, the city has issued 54 permits, well behind the 196 permits issued by the city by this time last year.
Canton Mayor Gene Hobgood said the slowdown is having a negative impact on the city government's fee revenues and estimates the slowdown could last through the fall.
"My guess is that we won't see a big improvement until after the presidential election," he said.
Holly Springs issued 18 permits last month, down from 22 issued in March and 29 issued in April last year. The city has issued 82 permits so far this year, down from 126 issued at this time last year.
Ball Ground issued three permits last month, up slightly from two issued in March and down from nine issued in April last year. So far this year, the city has issued nine permits, down from 20 issued at this time last year.
Nelson has not issued any permits in the county this year.
afuller@cherokeetribune.com
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