Home Building Up a Bit in Strongsville

It can't compare to the heyday '80s and '90s, but new home construction is up slightly this year in Strongsville.

Figures from the Building Department show that 56 permits for new single-family homes have been taken out this year, compared to 54 for all of 2010.

"We had several developments that were already approved, which makes it easier," Council President Mike Daymut said. "It's easier to sell lots once the infrastructure is in."

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

Drees Homes is building in Bakers Creek, behind Michaud's, according to the Building Department. Construction is also going on in the Breckenridge and Castlewood subdivisions off Prospect Road.

Hickory Branch, a new subdivision off Meadowood, is under construction, according to the Building Department.

In addition, Drees took over some of the lots 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 hae a good mix, I think," Daymut said.

Next year, there should be some homes going in at , the luxury subdivision off Prospect Road. And  has launched another phase, originally approved in 2008 but stalled since then. It will include 20 homes, about half of what was approved initially.

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

"Even though we don't have many new developments now, we're still seeing construction in the ones we have," he said.