By Ed Shannon, staff writer

Building activity in Albert Lea received a real boost with the issuance of a permit with a valuation of $7,293,000 for a 450-by-624-foot warehouse to Larson Manufacturing Co. The May report from the city&8217;s inspection department lists the address of this new distribution center warehouse as 1501 Beth Lane located on the southeast side of the city and near Exit 8 on Interstate 35.

During May the city issued 60 building permits with a valuation of $10,972,795. This increases the total valuation for building permits issued to $15,196,448 for the first five months of the year.

At the end of May 2006 the total valuation reported for building permits issued by the city was $5,584,115.

A permit with a valuation of $1,300,000 was issued to Crossroads Evangelical Church, 3402 Hoeger Lane, for several additions.

Another permit was issued for a $1,100,000 reroofing project at the Albert Lea Campus of Riverland Community College.

Three permits were issued for the construction of three new homes during May. One of these permits with a valuation of $70,000 was issued to Habitat for Humanity to construct

a new residence at 908 E. Ninth St.

The Freeborn County Planning and Zoning Office issued 30 building permits with a listed valuation of $1,377,600 during May. This increases the estimated valuation for permits to $2,963,678 for the first five months of the year.

Seven of the county-issued permits in May were for the construction of new homes and four permits were for home additions.