Homebuilding activity in the north Twin Cities metro area is up so far this year, bucking the overall trend for the Twin Cities.

The number of homebuilding permits metrowide through June 30 totaled 2223, down slightly 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 declined from 4,578 for the first six months of 2014 to 3,984 for the first six months of this year.

The 15 north metro communities in Hennepin and Anoka counties tracked by the builders’ group recorded 435 permits for the first half of this year, up from 377 a year ago. Andover, Ham Lake and Ramsey posted some of the strongest year-over-year gains.

Multiunit construction was a significant factor in Champlin, which had four permits on 73 housing units for the first half of this year.

Blaine had the highest permit total in the north metro, with 132 permits vs. 137 a year earlier.

 

Home Starts

Midyear housing permit figures from the builders’ group:

 

City 2015 2014

Andover 41 17

Anoka 5 19

Blaine 132 137

Brooklyn Park 60 54

Champlin 4 9

Coon Rapids 14 9

Dayton 21 12

East Bethel 2 8

Elk River 37 19

Fridley 4 2

Ham Lake 28 17

Lino Lakes 13 18

Ramsey 48 28

Rogers 13 18

St. Francis 13 10