Building permit values continue to surpass 2019 in the Fort Smith metro

Building activity in the Fort Smith area remains robust in 2020 with permit totals for the first seven months of 2020 up almost 71% compared with the same period in 2019. Permit values in Fort Smith are up almost 59%.

The regional cities of Fort Smith, Greenwood and Van Buren issued building permits valued at $17.75 million in July, an increase of 22.5% from June’s $14.49 million and a 2.3% increase from the $17.35 million in June 2020. The $184.84 million in total permitted activity for the first seven months of 2020 is a 70.89% increase over the $108.16 million recorded during the same time in 2019.

Fort Smith, the region’s largest city, issued 201 permits in July with a value of $16.43 million, a 36.6% increase from the $12.04 million on 193 permits in June and a 15% increase from the $14.29 million on 272 permits in July 2019. Year-to-date permitted activity in Fort Smith is $147.8 million, a 58.6% from the $93.203 million issued the first seven months of 2019.

The city only issued one permit for new commercial construction in July — construction valued at $150,000 by D&D Rental Properties at 6301 Zero St. This was a drastic drop from the $2.695 million in new commercial construction permits issued in June and a 75% decrease from the $600,000 in new commercial permits issued in July 2019. On the residential side, the city issued $2.95 million in new construction projects, up 74.7% from the $1.69 million issued in June and up 88% from the $1.57 million issued on new residential construction in July 2019.

The region’s second largest city took a bit of dip in July. Van Buren issued 71 permits valued at $693,750 during the month, a drop of 48.2% from the $1.34 million issued on 62 permits in June and down 74.3% from the $2.697 million issued in July 2019.

Van Buren’s total permit value for the month includes $596,100 in residential construction and $51,500 in commercial construction. By comparison, the city issued $1.35 million in residential construction permits and $1.34 million in commercial construction permits in July 2019. Van Buren’s year-to-date total permitted activity is $13.5 million, an increase of 37.5% from the $9.817 million issued through July 2019.

Greenwood issued 10 permits valued at $619,900 in July, down 43.9% from the $1.105 million on 8 permits in June, but a 68.1% increase from the $368,828 on five permits in July 2019. So far for the year, Greenwood has issued $5.568 million in building permits, an 8.3% increase from the $5.141 million issue in the first seven months of 2019.

REGIONAL BUILDING ACTIVITY RECAP
Combined total for the three cities
2019: $238.752 million
2018: $231.780 million
2017: $210.844 million
2016: $211.345 million
2015: $218.899 million
2014: $198.983 million
2013: $202.389 million
2012: $154.64 million
2011: $201.079 million
2010: $149 million
2009: $164 million

Fort Smith
2019: $204.008 million
2018: $187.678 million
2017: $169.958 million
2016: $185.783 million
2015: $191.631 million
2014: $174.252 million

Van Buren
2019: $27.731 million
2018: $37.946 million
2017: $19.665 million
2016: $15.327 million
2015: $16.009 million
2014: $7.918 million

Greenwood
2019: $7.013 million
2018: $6.156 million
2017: $15.23 million
2016: $10.235 million
2015: $11.259 million
2014: $16.813 million