1,600 New Housing Permits Expected By Year’s End

The Kern County Housing Authority says it expects new home construction in Bakersfield to finish the year strong, despite oilfield layoffs and the drought’s toll on agriculture.

Donna Carpenter represents the group and said the growth has been long, slow and steady.

“We’ve pulled a little over 1,000 permits,” she said. “So, if you project that to the end of the year, we’ll probably end up at around 1,600,” she said.

Carpenter said around 1,500 permits were issued last year.

Less than 1,000 permits were issued in 2010 and 2011.

– Anthony Pollreisz