| PALMDALE: The veteran city manager of Palmdale and
the new city manager of Lancaster told real estate
professionals Thursday that their businesses should
prosper for the next several years. Federal economic
reports indicate the number of housing starts in the
nation rose 4.7% during the last fiscal year in
comparison to the previous one, Toone, Palmdale City
Manager, said. In Palmdale, the figures are even better,
said Toone, who has been chief administrator for 18
years. Comparing calendar year 2003 to calendar 2004, the
number of permits issued for the construction of new
homes rose 45%, from 946 to 1,371, he said. |
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| Projections based on the number of permits issued to
date in 2005 indicate the number of permits will increase
by 45% again this calendar year, Toone said. "That's
here in Palmdale, and I know Lancaster is right there
with us in numbers," he said. According to the
Construction Industry Research Board, the boom was even
bigger in Lancaster, where the number of permits rose
79%, from 972 in 2003 to 1,740 in 2004. |
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| Bob LaSala, seated as city manager of Lancaster on
Jan. 3, said Toone's observations reflected those he had
prepared for the Realtors. As the population continues to
expand, so will retail development, he added. "The
economy, as Bob said, is vibrant, and the prospects for
the next couple of years look very good," LaSala
noted. |
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