WATERLOO -- Waterloo construction activity avoided the slow start suffered last year, ringing up a solid first quarter of building permits.

But Cedar Falls will need to make up ground to keep up with last year's building pace.

Both cities saw a boost in permits tied to repairs and rebuilding associated with the June floods.

The Waterloo Building Inspections Department issued permits in July through September, the first quarter of the fiscal year, totalling nearly $24.5 million in project values. While that is an average quarter, Waterloo had seen less than $13.3 million in new construction value during those same three months in 2007.

"The first quarter of last year, we had a whole lot on the books, but they weren't coming in to take out permits," said Waterloo Building Official Louis Cutwright. "This year they're coming in with plans and taking out permits."

It appears some of the first quarter totals this year involve flood repairs, including a $165,000 remodeling of the Burger King at Jefferson Street and West Mullan Avenue. Remodeling and repair values reached $10 million during the first quarter overall, about double the amount from the same period last year.

"Some of it is flood related, but not all of it," Cutwright said of the increase. One major repair permit was a $500,000 tuckpointing project on the Black Hawk County Jail, which was unrelated to the natural disasters.

Cutwright also was bullish on the new commercial projects started so far this year, which come to more than $10 million.

Major permits during the first quarter include $5.2 million for the W.W. Grainger Inc. service center going up in the Country Club Business Center; $3.8 million for remodeling the West High School auditorium; $2.3 million to complete work on the Allen Hospital expansion; and a $601,000 paint room addition at the John Deere engine works on West Ridgeway Avenue.

The city also saw 14 new single-family homes and four condominiums, with a combined value of $2.3 million, started during the first quarter.

Cedar Falls

Cedar Falls recorded $21 million in building valuation for the first quarter, down from $30.5 million during the same time span last year.

In September, the city logged $8.7 million in value, with $5.6 million in August and $6.8 million in July.

Cedar Falls has issued just two permit for new commercial buildings in the last six months, and had just one such permit over the last three months. That permit was issued for a new $824,700 building in the Greenhill Village development.

"We've got some commercial stuff that's not issued yet, but it should be coming this month," said Cedar Falls Building Official Craig Witry.

While no permits were issued for new commercial projects, John Deere took out a permit for a $980,630 project at the Product Engineering Center on Cedar Heights Drive in September.

In July, Goodwill Industries took out a permit for a $900,000 addition to its building on University Avenue.

Flood recovery has kept the city busy issuing permits. In July, 98 permits were issued for flood repairs or rebuilding flood-damaged properties, followed by 39 permits in August and 34 in September.

Among the flood permits was a $2.15 million permit for repairs to the Cedar Falls Utilities office building on Utility Parkway.

Witry said many property owners have been going forward with plans to raise up their existing homes above flood levels or build new on elevated foundations.

"We've already seen quite a few," Witry said.

As is typical in Cedar Falls, housing has been carrying the construction industry.

Through the first quarter of the fiscal year, Cedar Falls issued 36 permits for new homes valued at $7.4 million. That is down from a year ago, when the city had issued 58 permits for $11.9 million

"Housing is doing very well. October will be even better," Witry said.

Contact Jon Ericson at (319) 291-1461 or jonathan.ericson@wcfcourier.com.