Year-to-date building permit numbers up 13.3% in Fort Smith metro

Fort Smith metro building activity in November was down almost 30% compared with the same period in 2024, but regional permit numbers continue to surpass those of last year, according to city reports.

November building permits issued in Fort Smith, Greenwood, and Van Buren totaled $22.675 million, down 28.7% from $32.261 million in November 2024, but up 44% from $15.675 million reported in October.

Year-to-date, the three cities reported $269.764 million in permitted construction, up 13.3% from $238.198 million in the first 11 months of 2024.

Fort Smith issued 197 permits in November with a value of $21.925 million, down 27.7% from the $30.342 million value of 188 projects permitted in November 2024. The city has issued $240.33 million in building permits through November, up 4.4% from $230.285 million reported in the same period in 2024.

There were 15 permits issued for construction of single-family homes in November with a total value of $3.737 million, down 12.26% from the $4.259 million value of 16 new single-family home projects in November 2024. There also were six new residential duplex projects permitted in the month with a total value of $1.151 million.

There was one new commercial project permitted in the month with a value of $2.88 million, 70.8% more than the $1.686 million value of one new commercial project permitted in November of last year. The city issued a building permit for $2.88 million for construction of a 14,036-square-foot building at 318 Garrison Ave. on Nov 18 to rebuild what was once the Bricktown Brewery restaurant. Construction is set to begin in January, according to Rick Griffin, manager of Fort Smith-based Griffin Properties.

Adelaide Hall, the historic building that housed Oklahoma City-based Bricktown Brewery, had to be demolished following a Nov. 6, 2024, fire.

VAN BUREN, GREENWOOD PERMITS
Van Buren, the region’s second largest city, had 80 projects permitted in November with a value of $561,838, a 68.2% decrease from the $1.767 million value of 69 projects permitted in November 2024.

The city had three residential construction projects permitted with a value of $273,425, 71.6% less than the $963,300 value of eight residential projects permitted in November 2024. There was one commercial project permitted with a value of $77,510, 90.3% less than the 802,500 value of two commercial projects in November 2024.

Van Buren had $18.343 million in permitted building activity through November, down 17.8% from $22.324 million during the same period in 2024.

Greenwood issued 15 permits in November with a combined value of $188,007, 23.7% more than the $151,945 value of 17 permits in November 2024. Through November, Greenwood has issued building permits with a value of $12.071 million, down 1.64% from $12.272 million in the first 11 months of 2024.

Fort Smith, Greenwood, and Van Buren building permit values in 2024 totaled $271.09 million, a 48% decline from $520.64 million in 2023. It was the first year since 2017 that regional building activity declined.

REGIONAL BUILDING ACTIVITY RECAP
Combined annual permit value totals for the three cities
2024: $271.09 million
2023: $520.64 million
2022: $480.37 million
2021: $343.28 million
2020: $265.97 million
2019: $241.74 million
2018: $231.78 million
2017: $210.84 million
2016: $211.34 million
2015: $218.89 million
2014: $198.98 million