The value of construction in the city continues to eclipse last year, according to figures compiled by the city.

Last month alone, the city issued construction permits for housing and other projects with an estimated total value of $14.3 million, according to records.

In September 2010, the value of construction permitted in September was $4.3 million.

The total value of construction for the first nine months of this year is estimated at $86 million, compared to $59.2 million to the end of September last year.

For all of 2010, the total value was estimated at $69.4 million.

The city calculates the value of construction based on the estimated development cost of a project when the building permit is issued, not including the price of the land.

If the value of a house is estimated at $500,000 when the permit is issued, the $500,000 is added to that month's total, whether the project is completed that month or two years hence.

The total value in 2009, for instance, hit $92.9 million, of which $68.1 million fell under the category of Yukon government and other institutional projects, such as the new Whitehorse Correctional Centre, which is still under construction.

City planner Mike Gau said this year's records show single-family and multi-family residential development is having a much greater impact on the total construction value this year than in previous years.

For the first nine months, the value of residential construction is estimated at $46.6 million, with $23.6 million attributed to single-family construction and $23 million to multi-family projects.

Last year, the total residential value over the same period was $21 million and $16.7 million for the first nine months of 2009, according to records.