According to city officials, the level of residentialdevelopment has been steady in the number of homes built, about ahouse per day. For the past two years, construction activity hasadded an average of $125 million to the city's tax base in bothresidential and commercial development.

More than 400 new homes are built each year, according to cityrecords. A big percentage of that is apartments, townhouses andcondominiums built mostly in the Northeast and Northwest sectionsof the city. Commercial and industrial developments continue todrive development in the Southeast and Southwest districts.

During the next five years, the city sees large-scale retaildevelopment along US 70 slowing to some extent. Restaurant andhotel development is expected to continue in the Southeast. Thecity anticipates the addition of two hotels, an office tower andthree restaurants in 2001.