The construction industry in the Bay Area barely hammered along five years ago.
Those days are gone in the South Bay, where a building boom is in place -- evident with construction sites that can be found every few miles.
In South San Jose, a 320,000-square foot retail complex is being built off Cottle Road. And in North San Jose, off Zanker Road, more than 1,700 new apartment units are going up.
Other major construction project in the South Bay include a new soccer stadium for the San Jose Earthquakes, Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara and new office space for high-tech companies. And with more than 10,000 new apartment units underway, there is an expected housing boom hitting the region.
Michael Miller, with the Builders Exchange of Santa Clara County, said the number of new construction projects is growing steadily.
In 2010, 2,397 project plans were submitted to the exchange. Last year, that number jumped to 2,720 -- up 323. Many of those were residential projects.
Builders are completing more than 1,700 units at Crescent Village, off Zanker Road in San Jose.
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Officials said the new apartments may help all renters.
"As more housing comes online and available, then we will see prices come down or price increases moderate in the future as there is more competition for housing," said Joshua Howard, executive director of California Apartment Association.
