Area building permit values suffer from 2008 storm comparisons

The storms of Mother Nature, not the national economic storms, have more to do with a continued large decline in 2009 building permit activity when compared to 2008.

The value of September building permits issued in Fort Smith is $13.696 million, down 23% from the $17.789 million in September 2008. Weather-related damage that hit in April and June 2008 boosted residential and commercial repair activity by as much as $80 million during 2008.

Fort Smith issued 629 residential repair permits issued in September 2008 that totaled $3.979 million, significantly higher than the $941,201 from 122 residential repair permits issued in September 2009.

New residential home construction remains stable in Fort Smith, with the city issuing 29 permits valued collectively at $3.109 million. The city issued 21 new home permits valued at $3.554 million in September 2008. The city issued commercial construction permits valued at $7.504 million in September, down just 1.3% from September 2008.

A big component of the September 2009 commercial total was a permit valued at $3.12 million for the Eastside Baptist Outreach Center a 8025 Dallas St.

VAN BUREN
Officials in Van Buren issued permits for 51 projects valued at $2.485 million during September, down 32.5% from the 269 projects — most for storm repair — valued at $3.684 million in September 2008.

Residential construction in Van Buren improved in September with permits valued at $1.72 million for the month, up over the September 2008 value of $385,200.

David Martin, with the city of Van Buren, said most of the new home construction in Van Buren is on homes under $150,000.

“That is what is selling,” Martin said of the lower-priced homes.

Crawford County in 2008 saw a 59.6% decrease in the value of new residential construction permitted. The city of Van Buren issued 136 new home permits in 2007, but just 56 in 2008.