James Abromaitis

Commissioner James F. Abromaitis of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development recently announced that Connecticut communities authorized 916 new housing permits in May, representing a 4.3 percent decrease compared to May of 2002 when 957 units were authorized.

The department further indicated that the 916 units permitted in May of this year show a 7 percent increase over the 856 units permitted during the previous month.

The year-to-date permits are down 13.9 percent, from 4,104 through May 2002 to 3.455 through this past May.

The Waterbury labor market area showed the largest number of permits issued compared to a year ago, with 70 units this year compared to 51 units last year. The Torrington and Bridgeport LMAs also had net gains of 20 units and 19 units respectively. For year-to-date, the Torrington labor market area is the only such area to show an increase in permit authorizations.

Waterbury led all Connecticut communities with 70 new units, followed by Southington with 28 and Ellington with 26. From a county perspective, Tolland County had the smallest year-to-date loss of 5.3 percent.