Although rain has been coming down, several new buildings havebeen going up around Brookhaven in early 2003, said City BuildingInspector Steve Moreton.

For January and February, Moreton reported issuing buildingpermits for more than $1.6 million in construction activity. Ofthat, $1.24 million was in January and $376,000 in February.

“That’s real good as wet as it’s been,” Moreton said.

Moreton said a handful of projects had been able to layfoundations and were able to make substantial progress on theirbuildings.

“They’re erecting steel and putting up walls,” Moreton said.

On other projects, Moreton said wet ground is preventingfoundation work and could delay them for some time.

“If they’re not out of the ground, they’re still not out of theground,” Moreton said.

Moreton applauded a few projects that began in late 2002 orearlier this year.

The inspector mentioned Expectations’ new $315,000 home onBrookway Boulevard and the $944,000 Healthplex, being developed byBrookhaven Rehabilitation and Wellness. The 14,000 square-footfacility on Highway 51 will feature a swimming pool, weight roomand other health and rehabilitative services areas.

“That’s going to be a nice place,” Moreton said.

Also on Highway 51, Quality Home Oxygen is building a new officecomplex. It is scheduled to open in April, said owner RobFisher.

It will house Fisher’s business office and offices for two otheroperations.

“It’s going to be a nice new building and fix up that areaaround the hospital,” Fisher said.

After acquiring the property, Hudson’s Salvage Center did a$147,000 upgrade to Lincoln Plaza’s air conditioning and heatingunits.

“They’re slowly improving that whole shopping center,” Moretonsaid.

Elsewhere on the state highway, Moreton said Crawfish Connectionrecently opened across from the Healthplex. Entergy has completed anew office and parking area to house its south Mississippi regionalwork force.

Moreton added that Brookhaven Hardware on Highway 51 south wasworking on a new building, but he had not seen any plans yet.

In the food service area, Moreton said the Golden Wok will belocated in Whitebrook Square between Broma’s and Cici’s Pizza.

“They’re in the process of opening,” Moreton said, while alsomentioning the addition of Broma’s To Go next the dine-in deli.

The Chinese restaurant development was only around $15,000,Moreton said, because the building was already constructed.

“Just about everything was already there,” Moreton said.

Brookhaven is also seeing some good church-related constructionactivity.

On or near Brookway Boulevard, Faith Presbyterian Church isworking on a $750,000 activity center and Brookway Baptist Churchis adding a $25,000 fellowship hall. St. Paul Missionary BaptistChurch on North Second Street is pursuing a new $130,000 familylife center.

In industrial activity, Moreton said Continental Carbonic hadreceived a permit for a $436,000 building. It will be located inthe Industrial Park across from EPCO.

“They’re under construction now,” Moreton said.

On Enterprise Street, Moreton said Casco Products had done a$30,000 warehouse addition and at 112 West Cherokee Street, E.B.Germany and Son had renovated the space for its oil company office.He also mentioned a new $70,000 service building being built forJeff Wilson the boulevard.

For the future, Moreton said building work that is not wellunder way could be delayed until April or May. He attributed thatto heavy rain that has soaked the ground and made for some muddyconditions at many work sites.

“We’ve had an exceptional amount of rain,” Moreton said.