Storm damage repairs continue to boost building permit values

Repair work from hail and wind storms earlier this year continue to boost Fort Smith building permit numbers.

For the first two weeks of December, the city has issued 179 permits valued at $5.11 million. The city issued 158 permits for work valued at $10.8 million for all of December 2007.

Of the 179 permits issued during the first two weeks of December, 129 were for residential repair work.

“It’s been great for the industry,” Dave Hughes, executive director of the Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders, said of the repair work. “Our (building) supply (members) have really benefited from it.”

Commercial permits also were boosted by repair work, including $660,000 for roof repair at Kimmons Junior High School and $987,000 for roof repair work at First United Methodist Church.

The commercial permits also include a $750,000 new office building, belonging to Windsor Properties, at 6301 U.S. 45 in south Fort Smith.