The number of building permits issued so far this year by the Leelanau County Construction Code Authority is exactly the same number issued by the same time last year.

However, the estimated construction value of the 21 permits issued so far this year is about 64 percent lower than the year-to-date value reported in 2009.

Over the latest two-week reporting period, nine new permits were placed in a file available for public perusal at the Code Authority office in the county Government Center building. The combined estimated construction value of the projects outlined on the nine new permits was $290,321, bringing the year-to-date value estimate to $1,380,122.

By the same time in 2008, the number of permits was 18 though their estimated values were about 3.5 percent higher than this year. Last year at this time, we noted that 2008 had been the slowest year on record for construction activity in Leelanau County.

Although that was true at the time, 2009 turned out to be the slowest year on record. It may be too early to say whether 2010 will set new record lows – but, so far, it appears we may be headed in that direction based on the slow start in January and February.

Following is a list of projects for which permits have been issued, listed by the community in which the work is being done:

BINGHAM: West Bay Shore Village L.L.C., commercial alteration at 5046 S. West Bay Shore Dr., $145,708.

CENTERVILLE: Chris J. Herman, interior residential alterations at 4209 S. Hemlock Rd., $28,000.

ELMWOOD: Christine J. Frary, demolition of single-family residence with deck and attached garage at 9201 E. Cherry Bend Rd., $6,000.

GLEN ARBOR: Robert Sack, interior alterations to commercial building at 6610 W. Western Ave., $39,573.

LEELANAU: James W. Leenhouts Revocable Trust (Easling Construction), residential carport attached to garage at 134 N. Northcott Dr., $3,000; Arthur H. Bunn Trust (Gibson Construction), residential interior alteration at 738 N. Birchwood Dr., $20,000.

LELAND: Red Acres L.L.C. (Biggs Construction Service), second floor residential alteration at 3513 N. Lake Leelanau Dr., $30,040; John H. and Doris E. Breniser (Lund Homes), alterations and addition to single-family residence at 102 W. Reynolds St., $8,000.

SUTTONS BAY: Linda Cox (Baldwin Homes), residential alteration at 1501 S. Knorr Dr., $10,000.