county and in the city; however, it was a slight decline, compared to the city
which ended in 2013. No permits for multi‐family construction were issued
from 2014‐2015. County permit activity followed the trend of the City of
Montgomery again between 2013 and 2014, where the numbers spiked at
274 permits being issued during that final year of reporting. As shown in Figures 2‐3 and 2‐4, the issuance of building permits for
multi‐family housing is appears to be more volatile than that of single‐family
housing. As such, multi‐family housing units appear to be still in an uptick
within the JLUS Study Area.
Figure 2‐4 The primary economic activity throughout the Study Area is centered on the
agriculture industry dating back to the early colonial period. Efforts to
diversify Montgomery’s economy with new sectors have brought substantial
growth to the region in manufacturing, heavy commercial development, and
tourism. These economic sectors now represent the largest industries in the
city, in addition to hospitality and food services. Much effort has been
placed on promoting regional tourism through the expansion of recreational
facilities, and the development of new cultural and recreational districts.
Multi‐Family Building Permits, 2004‐2016
2.3.
Economic Overview
Source: South Central Alabama Development Commission Comprehensive Economic
Development Strategy, 2009
Alabama
Source: State of the Cities Data Systems Building Permits Database, 2004 – 2016
^Autauga and Elmore counties are not participating JLUS partners; however, they are
shown here to provide context for the surrounding area.
Multi‐family dwellings provide an affordable alternative to single‐family
housing, and their availability is an important factor to consider for military
compatibility. The majority of renter households live in multi‐family
housing, so the availability of these units is essential to more mobile
residents within the Study Area. Because military personnel at Maxwell AFB
may need to obtain affordable short‐ to mid‐term housing off‐base, ensuring
that there is adequate housing stock to meet the needs of the civilian
residents as well as military personnel is important for communities within
the JLUS Study Area.
Page 2‐12
Agriculture is Alabama’s top industry, generating $70.4 billion annually.
Agriculture produces 580,295 jobs in the state, with forestry leading the
count at 122,020 direct and support jobs. There are more than 48,500 farms
in the state, covering nine million acres, and 22 million acres covered by
forest land. The top five commodities in the state are poultry; cattle and
calves; greenhouse, sod and nursery products; cotton; and peanuts. The
state exports more than one billion dollars in agricultural goods each year,
with poultry making up one‐third of that total.
Source: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/
Montgomery County
Montgomery County has long been known for cotton production, and was
even home to the first commercial cotton gin during the early nineteenth
century. Though the county has experienced diversification of its
Background Report
June 2017