Homebuilding activity throughout the west metro area has been slightly slower so far this year compared with 2014, mirroring a trend for the Twin Cities overall.

The number of housing permits metrowide through June 30 totaled 2,223, down from 2,268 for the same period in 2014, according to the Keystone Report for the Builders Association of the Twin Cities. The number of housing units built also fell from 4,578 for the first six months of 2014 to 3,984.

The 30 west metro communities in Hennepin and Carver counties tracked by the builders' group had 754 housing permits for the first half of this year, compared with 786 for the same period in 2014. Plymouth had the highest total in the west metro, 137.

Multiunit housing continued to be a big factor in Minneapolis, which recorded 440 housing units on 62 permits through June 30. Other communities with significant multiunit construction included Chaska, with 200 units on 62 permits; Edina, with 197 units on 66 permits; Maple Grove, with 321 units on 85 permits and Minnetonka, with 209 units on 28 permits.

Susan Feyder • 612-673-1723

Home Starts

Midyear housing permit figures from the builders' group:

City2015 2014

Bloomington 8 5

Camden Township 1 1

Carver 7 6

Chanhassen 48 35

Chaska 62 56

Dahlgren Township 1 0

Eden Prairie 39 39

Edina 66 45

Excelsior 0 3

Golden Valley 14 8

Laketown Township 2 0

Maple Grove 85 87

Mayer 8 6

Medina 28 62

Minneapolis 62 84

Minnetonka 28 31

Minnetrista 30 33

Mound 12 6

Norwood YA 6 6

Orono 29 16

Plymouth 137 135

San Francisco Twnsp 1 0

Shorewood 7 11

St. Louis Park 13 10

Tonka Bay 0 1

Victoria 32 50

Waconia 20 33

Waconia Township 1 1

Watertown 0 1

Wayzata 7 15