Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - New home construction in Rochester is keeping pace with last year despite the harsher winter conditions.

The Rochester Building Safety Department approved 16 permits for new single-family homes in February, which puts the total for the first two months of the year at 35. That matches last year, which was the busiest year for Rochester homebuilders since 2006.

Overall, the city approved 140 building permits worth over $38.5 million in February. The valuation total for the month was $14 million above the monthly total from February of last year and the total for the year is almost $18 million above last year’s tally after two months.

The largest building permit issued last month was for the Hoover Elementary School expansion and was valued at over $6.4 million. That was followed by a $4.9 million permit for the footings on the $115 million Alatus project on the site of the former Blondell’s Hotel next to St. Marys Hospital.

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