Home Building Down? Not in Strongsville

Hammers may not be flying at new home construction sites in Strongsville, but they're at least making some noise.

With building season just starting, the city has already issued 31 permits for new single-family homes.

Builders took out 61 permits all of last year, which was more than the 54 in 2010.

"We have subdivisions that started a few years ago where construction is still going on," Council President Mike Daymut said. "We're very lucky -- we weren't as affected by the housing crisis as other communities."

Pulte Homes is doing some building in Schneider Reserve, off Whitney Road, and at Avery Walden, the upscale development off Webster Road.

There has been construction by Drees Homes Bakers Creek, behind Michaud's, and there are two new subdivisions off Prospect Road -- Breckenridge and Castlewood.

Hickory Branch, a new subdivision off Meadowood, started last year.

Daymut said there is also building going on at Bexley Place at Albion and West 130th Street, Daymut said.

The construction includes both upscale homes, like at Avery Walden, and more affordable houses.

"We've got a good cross-section -- clusters, condos, new homes," Daymut said.

He said people in Ward 1, which he represents, often stay in the area when they move, going from a larger house to a free-standing cluster or a condo.

So far, ground work is going on at , the luxury subdivision off Prospect Road, but no houses are yet taking shape.

And  is expected to add about 20 homes. The new phase was originally approved in 2008 with about 40 homes planned, but stalled. 

Strongsville is one of a few suburbs with available land to be developed, Daymut said.

"We do have pockets of land still available," he said.

Of course, it can't compare to a few decades ago, when homebuilding was rampant here. Daymut said when he first served on the Planning Commission 20 years ago, there were 22 subdivisions under construction and more than 400 homes a year were built in Strongsville.