By Andy Ostmeyer

aostmeyer@joplinglobe.com

Despite a strong showing in October, Joplin reported its worst year for construction in at least a decade, according to building permits filed with the city.

The permits indicate that the value of new business and new home construction was down by half, compared with the previous year.

In October, $9.5 million in permits was filed, compared with $2.3 million for the same month one year earlier. That comes on the heels of a September in which less than $300,000 in new construction was permitted in Joplin.

Despite the boost, construction for the city’s fiscal year that ended on Oct. 31 came to $46 million, compared with $87 million last year and $128.1 million a year before that. That $128.1 million was a record for Joplin.

Construction has been sluggish in Joplin since the recession began, with few seven-figure projects filed by the private sector, but October included three permits valued at more than $1 million. One of those was at Joplin Regional Airport for a new electrical vault building for lighting controls for the airfield, as well as signage and striping. The largest was $5.1 million for work on the Gryphon Building at 1027 S. Main St. It was filed by Neal Group Construction.

“It is going very well,” Jeff Neal said.

Remediation of lead, asbestos and pigeon waste is nearly complete and work on the exterior of the building is about 90 percent complete, he said. Crews have restored, cleaned and tuckpointed the original brick and replaced window lentils. The building has about 120,000 square feet.

“We anticipate being complete with vanilla box construction — that is all the systems awaiting tenant infill — in March of next year,” Neal said.

He praised the Joplin City Council and City Manager Mark Rohr for their role in the project, having contributed $175,000 in grant money.

“We’re very gratified for the opportunity to be working on a great project,” Neal said.

Staying optimistic

While some experts see reason to believe the economy is improving, there’s always some lag time before contractors pick up work. They have to wait for projects to be approved, financing to be arranged and drawings to be completed by architects before the bidding process begins.

“Things are pretty bleak right now,” Chuck Killinger, president of Dalton-Killinger Construction, said Thursday. “There is a little trickle going on.”