(FEBRUARY 4, 1999 - Baltimore) -- Baltimore and Anne Arundel Counties lead the Baltimore region in both new residential and non-residential development, according to Regional Development Trends 1988-1997, a recent publication of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC). For most of that period, Baltimore City dominated the market for non-residential additions, alterations and repairs. Data are taken from the Building Permit Data System (BPDS), created and maintained by BMC.

"These figures are consistent with BMC's projections that Anne Arundel and Baltimore Counties will lead the region in new household growth through 2020," said Baltimore Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke, who serves as BMC Chair. "The building activity in Baltimore City reflects additions to the Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland medical facilities, as well as redevelopment around the Inner Harbor."

Both residential and non-residential development mirrored the national economic pattern of recession in the early 1990s followed by recovery, although on slightly different schedules. The number of new residential permits peaked at 18,000 in 1988 and plummeted to fewer than 11,000 in 1991. From 1995-1997, the number of permits leveled off to a new benchmark of approximately 11,000 per year. Non-residential development, measured in 1990 dollars, went from a high of $634 million in 1988 to a low of $195 million in 1994, before recovering and establishing a new benchmark of $386 million per year in 1996 and 1997.

Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City and Baltimore County accounted for between 70 and 79 percent of residential additions, alterations and repairs in every year between 1988 and 1997.

Top residential growth areas (Regional Planning Districts) in the region between 1990 and 1997 include:

Over the reporting period, multi-family units accounted for an average of 21 percent of permitted units per year. The percentage of multi-family units peaked at 30 percent in 1990, dropped to a low of 12.6 percent in 1992 and recovered to the ten-year average of 21 percent in 1997.

The full report is available from BMC's Regional Information Center for $20.00 per copy. For more information contact Mary Logan at 410-333-4881.

"Much of both residential and non-residential new development is clustered along major transportation corridors, such as I-95, the Baltimore Beltway and I-795," noted Paul Farragut, BMC's Executive Director. "It's also very encouraging to see investment in existing housing stock in the region's central core."

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