There's been at least one unexpected side effect of coronavirus in the city of Cloquet and nationwide: new single-family housing projects are already significantly higher than last year's total.

Cloquet Community Development director Holly Hansen said the increase was somewhat unexpected but a welcome surprise. She credits the low interest rates for at least part of the boom.

"We scratch our heads sometimes," Hansen told the Pine Knot last week. "We know there's a Covid recession going on right now, but we are very busy with building inspections."

In 2019, including mobile homes, the city a...