Housing construction activity mixed around region

Single-family housing starts in Fort Collins continue to soar ahead of last year’s pace, but Greeley and Loveland are lagging well behind the year-ago numbers, according to new statistics compiled by the Home Builders Association of Northern Colorado.

In Fort Collins builders pulled 358 single-family permits through April, up 20.5 percent over the same point in 2002.

The Greeley/Evans market has floundered compared to last year, with 317 permits issued through April. That’s 45.7 percent behind the year-ago totals.

The Loveland market, meanwhile, has generated 190 permits, 30.1 percent below last year’s totals through four months..

Total housing permits in the three cities, including…