New statistics show what is painfully obvious at this point: The local housing market is in the dumps. We take a look at the latest Charlotte-area home sales and home price figures, and also at year-end building permit numbers, which were down sharply in Davidson this year. Also in this column:

• Commissioner Jenest voted one of region’s most business friendly officials.
• PostNet will recycle your packing peanuts after Christmas.
• Christmas in Davidson draws more visitors than expected.
• The Fish Guy changes tactics for winter.
• News about the Bradford Store, Davidson Village Inn, Homewood Suites, South Main Square and Lake Norman Currents magazine
• Area hospitals called nurse-friendly.

MARKET IN A SLUMP

The Charlotte Realtors Association released figures last week showing that home sales in the Charlotte region were down 37.8 percent in November. At the same time, prices fell 17 percent, The Charlotte Business Journal reports.

Meanwhile, here in Davidson, building permits for new homes fell to just 121 in 2008, from 328 in 2007. They were up the first couple of months, but down sharply as the year went on. There was just one permit request in November.

Here’s a month-by-month breakdown, from the Planning Department.

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RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS IN DAVIDSON, 2007-2008
------------------------------------------------
                   2007        2008
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January            16             16
February           10            12
March              23            13
April              16            10
May                56            15
June               37             9
July               21            10
August             44             12
September          19             13
October            38            10
November           33             1
December           15             --
------------------------------------------------
TOTAL              328           121

JENEST CALLED BUSINESS FRIENDLY

The Lake Norman Chamber has named Davidson Town Board member Brian Jenest as one of the most business friendly local officials in north Mecklenburg. Mr. Jenest, a first-term commissioner in Davidson, was recognized at a lunch Nov. 20 at NorthStone Country Club in Huntersville. Also recognized were Cornelius Commissioner Jim Bensman and Huntersville Commissioner Charlie Jeter.

The awards were determined by a vote of chamber members. Mr. Jenest was named by 31 percent of those surveyed, more than double the next highest vote getter in Davidson.
Chamber executive director Bill Russell said the organization “asked our businesses which commissioner from each North Mecklenburg town demonstrated a record of supporting issues and town board matters which best promoted a healthy business climate for the Lake Norman region.”

POSTNET RECYCLES PACKING PEANUTS

As you tear into those holiday gifts this season, especially those shipped from loved ones elsewhere, you’ll probably encounter boxes filled with those annoying foam packing peanuts. Save them, says Kim Rodes, of PostNet in the Davidson Commons Shopping Center, near the Harris Teeter. PostNet will gladly accept your packing peanuts, Ms. Rodes said this week. Just bring your materials by the store. They’ll recycle them for future packaging, and at the same time help keep customers’ costs down, she said. More information about PostNet is at www.postnet.com/nc139

QUICK HITS

• Downtown Davidson Inc. estimates that 28,000 people visited the three-day 2008 Christmas in Davidson festival Dec. 4-6. That exceeded the 20,000 projected, despite unpleasant weather on the festival’s first night. Downtown Davidson officials are now reviewing feedback from this year’s event to assist planning for next year. Meanwhile, event coordinator Margaret Martens has barely had time to catch her breath – she’s already looking ahead to the organization’s next big event: Art on the Green, which is part of the regional April Is for Arts celebration.
• The Fish Guy, Mike Casagrande, is suspending Saturday sales of fish outside Campania Café on South Main Street for the winter, though he’ll continue to deliver fish ordered in advance. In a note to customers this week, he also said he was adding meats, such as beef tenderloin and Kobe beef, to his list. “For the next few months I will be offering preorders for drop off … or delivery upon request. As soon as the weather changes I will go back to offering the Saturday Seafood Market. Order by Friday at noon for pick up in Davidson at Campania Cafe, South Main Street, from 11-noon on Saturday.” The Fish Guy can be reached at cltfishguy@gmail.com 704-756-8880
• Speaking of food … the Bradford Store, 15915 Davidson-Concord Road, remains open for the winter, selling produce, meats, baked goods, snack foods, and now Mecklenburg County’s own Midas Spring Water. They’ll be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and open Jan. 2 and 3. Winter hours beginning Jan. 5 will be Wednesdays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to dusk; Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Info: http://www.thebradfordstore.com/
• South Main Square held a reception last Wednesday, Dec. 10, to celebrate the holidays and to recognize United Family Services, a local nonprofit organization that helps families in need. The reception honored the organization along with director Kathryn Sellers and her staff. Kathleen Rose of South Main Square said the mixed-use development had made a donation to the organization on behalf of tenants, vendors and friends.
• Davidson Village Inn is offering a New Years Eve special room rate of $99 – and it comes with fringe benefits for a local non-profit. The Village Inn will donate 10 percent of your room rate to the Ada Jenkins Center. … Homewood Suites at Exit 30 is offering a discounted room rate on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, for those celebrating the holiday at Sabi Asian Bistro. Those $99 rates might just be cheaper than a traffic ticket if you celebrate a little too hard …
  

  Sharon Simpson unveils her new magazine. (Bill Giduz photo)

• A reception at Wooden Stone on South Main Street Nov. 19 marked the official coming out party for Lake Norman Currents. Publisher Sharon Simpson and others celebrated the debut of the new monthly. Founders describe it as a lake-oriented lifestyle magazine. It’s distributed free around the Lake Norman area and by home delivery. www.lncurrents.com
• – The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) recently designated Lake Norman Regional Medical Center in Mooresville and Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville as among the state’s 21 “magnet hospitals.” The designation signifies the hospitals are outstanding workplaces for nurses.