Sweet Home’s population grew by five people to 9,050 in the past year, according to a Portland State University’s annual estimate.
According to the PSU estimates, Sweet Home cracked 9,000 last year when the population increased from 8,995 in 1997 to 9,045 in 1998.
The figures are based on housing starts and demolitions. The estimate is for July 1, 2009.
In 2004, Sweet Home had a population of 8,016, increasing from 7,970. In 1995, the city had a population of 7,350, and in 1979, it had a population of 6,780.
Oregon’s population increased from 3,791,075 to 3,823,465. Linn County increased from 110,185 to 110,865. Lebanon reached 15,580, up from 15,185. Albany increased from 42,073 to 49,165. Brownsville went from 1,755 to 1,780.
From Jan. 1, 2008 to Dec. 31, 2008, Sweet Home had 21 new single-unit homes, said Carol Lewis, community development director.
From July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009, the city’s fiscal year, the city had four single-unit housing starts, she said. In that same period, two single-unit homes were demolished. Four units of multiple-family housing, at 1619 Elm St., were demolished, but those had been empty.
Fourteen new manufactured homes were installed in the city, with 10 removed for a net increase of four new manufactured homes, Lewis said.
The estimate also looks at how many people live in campers and RVs, which is illegal in Sweet Home, Lewis said. The estimate shows no one living in those conditions. Group quarters, such as nursing and resident care facilities, did not change in the last year, remaining at 70 individuals.
Those are the numbers PSU uses to calculate population changes, she said.
During an economic downturn, people typically upgrade and remodel rather than building new homes, Lewis said.
And that’s reflected in planning activity.
“We actually canceled two (Planning Commission) meetings this year,” said Lewis, who has been community development director for about 15 years. “We haven’t done that since I’ve been here.”
During the 2009 calendar year, Sweet Home has had 12 new site-built homes and five new manufactured homes. January through June, the city has taken in about $50,493 in building fees. The city budgeted for $100,000 for building fee revenue for the 2009-10 fiscal year. Two large projects, remodels on Linn Haven and Stonebrook apartment complexes, will include 40 building permits and account for a large part of revenues for the year.
Construction value is slow this year, but it’s still running ahead of most of the 1990s, Lewis said. With three quarters counted, the city has added $4.2 million in construction. The peak in the 1990s was $7 million in 1998.
The peak in the 2000s was $14.9 million in 2006 with a close second in 2003 at $14.8 million.
The city had $8 million in new construction value in 2008 and $13.5 million in 2007.
“You see those higher ones (in the mid-2000s), you start getting spoiled,” Lewis said.