Building activity remained steady in Flathead County last year, but the amount and valuation of new construction still pales when compared to the boom of 2004-07.

“Overall construction activity has still not returned to pre-recession levels,” the Kalispell Building Department noted in its annual report.

While the total number of building permits in Kalispell was up 4.7 percent last year over 2013, the value of that construction — for new construction and remodels/additions — was down slightly, from $46 million in 2013 to $45 million last year.

A record 480 housing units were built in Kalispell in 2004, and by 2007 the value of new construction in Kalispell was a whopping $112 million.

Last year, single-family home construction in Kalispell was down 23.6 percent from the previous year, at 81 units. There were 17 townhouse or duplex units constructed, according to the city’s annual building report.

Commercial construction in Kalispell was a bright spot, up 17.8 percent due in large part to the final buildout of Spring Prairie Center’s third phase in north Kalispell.

During 2014 there was 149,895 square feet of new commercial space added in Kalispell, plus 17,426 square feet of office space and 50,401 square feet in health-care and public facilities.

Whitefish continues to be a bright spot for construction. 

The total valuation of residential and commercial building in the resort town — including remodels and additions — was $58 million last year.

New home construction was the driving force behind Whitefish’s construction activity, accounting for more than $43 million of the total valuation, according to the Whitefish Planning Department. There were 72 new homes built in Whitefish last year. Ten of the homes were valued in excess of $1 million, with the most expensive Whitefish home pegged at $4.1 million.

Whitefish issued 99 building permits in 2014, far fewer than the record 145 permits issued in 2006. Planning Director David Taylor said he believes Whitefish’s pace of building is back on track with pre-recession levels and he expects the building frenzy to continue in the resort town.

Columbia Falls held its own in 2014. 

The city reports its permits and valuation on a fiscal-year basis rather than a calendar year. For the last half of fiscal year 2014 — from July 1, 2014, through January 2015, the city issued 31 building permits valued at $7.2 million.

During the last full fiscal year, from July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014, Columbia Falls issued 55 building permits with a total valuation of $8.8 million. That compares with 92 building permits and $12.6 million of construction in fiscal year 2007.

Flathead County does not have a building permit system, so no building statistics are available for new construction outside the county’s three incorporated cities.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.