Building permit values continue to surpass 2019 in the Fort Smith metro
by August 7, 2020 3:46 pm 1,003 views
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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