Building activity in Ceres is more robust now than it's been in several years.

In 2012 the city of Ceres processed no permits for buildings of single-family residential units.

In 2013, a total of nine permits were issued for the construction of $1.7 million worth of single-family homes.
However, since July 1, the city has processed 22 permits. The value of the homes totals $4.8 million, or an average of $216,881 apiece.

The city also reported that six commercial construction projects have been permitted worth $1.22 million.

The increase in activity has resulted in an increase in revenue to the city building department. In 2012 the city took in $15,435 in permit fees. That amount shot up to $34,193 in 2013. But since the start of the 2013-14 fiscal year on July 1, the city has taken in $174,651 in permit fees.

Most of the new residential construction is taking place in Eastgate, Ceres easternmost development, where subdivisions approved before the mortgage crisis hit but never finished are back in construction mode.

Tom Westbrook, director of Community Development for the city of Ceres, said construction has occurred in Florsheim Homes' Bing Cherry Estates, which was approved in 2006 subdivision but halted. The company appears headed to finish off the last 39 lots south of Hatch Road and west of Eastgate Boulevard.

Interest is picking up to finish other projects that were chilled by the mortgage fiasco and resulting recession. One of those areas includes Northwood Heights off of Evans Road where building halted years ago.

The Westpointe area west of Morgan Road has a number of unfinished lots off of Malik and Whitmore avenues.