Dirt's moving in Clark County, sign economy may be too
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CAMAS, Wash. - It may not be happening everywhere, but it looks like business is taking off in southwest Washington – or at least getting ready to.
Developers and builders in Camas have had a busy summer and are expecting many more.
There's still plenty of open space in Camas but more and more of it is being developed as evidenced from the construction dust rising from Prune Hill. Workers are leveling the land and laying pipes and wires for houses.
"The economy, as far as the private end, has been slowly breaking forward," said Will Kaarto with Tapani Underground. "The ground's getting moved, you know – the dirt's getting busted open – hopefully getting more lots in the county."
Across Clark County, new home permits were up in September. That was 80 percent more than last year.
And houses need floors. Workers at Portland Hardwoods have been working on expanding their business from remodels to new homes.
"Back in the day, we had to get down on our hands and knees looking for work," said Roman Zosim, with Portland Hardwoods. "Now it's coming towards us a little more. It's definitely picking up."
And it's not just homes being planned and built. Tucked into the woods nearby, Fisher Investments, a $41 billion Bay Area company, is building a new office complex. It has many wondering if that huge company plans to move its corporate headquarters to Camas.
The number of commercial construction permits for office, retail and industrial projects has stayed about the same as last year. But the value of the projects is up by about $8 million. The value of the home permits is up by that much as well.
They can build all they want. The problem I see is the near 25% vacancy in old and newly built commercial buildings throughout Clark County. What do they think..."if we build it, they will come?" Sure doesnt' look like it.
@wondering The banks are holding their money very close to their "chests". I think they're like most of the other businesses I'm dealing with right now. Just waiting to see if we get a new president or is it going to be the same one.
That is a very "tracky" looking area. I wouldn't like to live there....
Wow! Moving dirt! Doesn't dirt usually move either as a result of gophers, moles, or earthquakes? I'm sure dirt did not suddenly animate through self-actuation.
sure, they're building.....but the big question is...."Are they selling?".....For sale signs don't mean the economy is improivng....Sold signs do!
The government has printed and dumped so much money into the economy that sooner or later it has to pop out. Get your wheelbarrows ready!
"The number of commercial construction permits for office, retail and industrial projects has stayed about the same as last year. But the value of the projects is up by about $8 million." Yeah, not improving, just costing more.
Off topic, but look at the size of that freakin' basement!
Probably getting ready for an underground MJ grow operation?
 @randomdude Look at the Russians working on it!