The year is winding down in the construction trades industry in Austin.

With one month to go, exterior work is coming to a halt in December.

Recent snowfalls may slow the work being done in the downtown area for the new Mower County Jail and Justice Center project.

One square block of property — Second Avenue to Third Avenue Northeast and First Street to Second Street Northeast — is being cleared for a new two-story, 128-bed jail and justice center complex.

Only one building remains to be removed — Steve’s Pizza — which will be allowed to remain at its current location along Second Avenue Northeast from the Robbins block also targeted for clearing by Mower County.

Steve’s Pizza will remain in place until March 1, 2009, when it will move into the Granle’s Custom Framing and Art Gallery building at the corner of North Main Street and Fourth Avenue Northwest.

The new Mower County Jail and Justice Center will be located on a pad-ready site with no basement.

The city is still attempting to acquire two properties in a second block between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue Northeast.

A one-block portion of Third Avenue Northeast will be vacated by the city for the jail/justice center project when the city acquires the former Colonial Bar building complex.

When the city issues the county the building permits for the jail/justice center project in 2009, it will represent the largest capital improvement project in Mower County history. Last month, the city issued 34 more building projects for an estimated construction value of $685,385.

That pushed the 11-month 2008 totals to 583 permits for an estimated $15,469,456.

A year ago, 41 building permits were issued in November 2007 for an estimated $2,250,991 construction value. The 11-month totals in 2007 were 598 permits for an estimated $28,902,657 construction value.

The 2007 totals showed only 15 more permits issued a year ago through 11-months, but projects that nearly doubled this year’s total construction value.

Three commercial addition, alteration or repair permits were issued by the city in November for an estimated $63,100; the largest went to Kwik Trip Inc. for a $50,000 upgrade at its 1201 West Oakland Avenue convenience store and gas station.

St. Mark’s Lutheran Home was issued a building permit in November for an estimated $152,653 in sprinkler system upgrading.

Seven residential addition, alteration and repair permits were issued last month for an estimated $56,100 in home makeovers.

Two new single-family residence permits were issued for an estimated construction value of $148,000 at 1100-1102 24th Avenue Southwest.

Three residential siding permits were issued in November and five residential window replacement permits.

Twenty-six residential heating permits were issued in November for an estimated $94,408 in home heating projects.

The 11-month totals show the city issued 209 heating, air conditioning and other residential upgrading project permits in 2008 for an estimated $814,908 in work.

A year ago, the city issued 220 permits for an estimated $864,836 in mechanical contractor work during the first 11 months of 2007.

The public information in the monthly building report comes from the city of Austin’s engineering/public works department.