Construction Projects

The restoration of the old First Baptist Church in downtown Orange continues to lead construction projects. The Stark Foundation, which owns the building, received a City of Orange building permit in January to install a $2.5 million air conditioning-heating system by Honeywell International. The foundation has previously had two other building permits totaling more than $1.2 million for a new roof and renovations. In addition, the foundation has demolished the other buildings on the former church campus on Green Avenue. The foundation will use the century-old domed building for classes and lectures.
Active churches in Orange are also having improvement projects. First Church of the Nazarene, 3810 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, received a permit for a $450,000 remodel of its Fellowship Hall. The contractor is Stout Home Building. Another permit for $4,100 was issued to the church for an air conditioning-heating system. Community Church has a permit for $40,000 to enclose the sports pavilion. In addition, the Catholic Diocese of Beaumont received a permit to do a $56,500 concrete driveway at St. Mary Cemetery on Meeks Drive.
Another large permit issued in January went to the Oakwood Village Apartments on 37th Street. The apartment complex is rebuilding units damaged by fire at a cost of $236,448. The contractor is Gemstar. The permits also included one for a $17,000 mechanical system for heating and air conditioning.
The city also issued five permits for new construction of single-family homes for a total of $503,505. Four of the new houses are part of the federal hurricane recovery program to help low-income homeowners. The other house valued at $133,505 is being built at 609 DuPont Drive.
A commercial add-on permit was given to Michael J. Rhines at 1111 Green Avenue for a $1,200 smoke house. Another commercial permit was for $30,000 concrete work at 2321 Highway 62. A commercial mechanical system for air-conditioning and heating worth $6,000 was given to 7000 North Highway 87.
Four residential remodeling permits were issued for a total of $83,700 along with one residential re-roofing worth $5,000. Three new residences are having new heating and air conditioning systems installed at a total cost of $14,022.