November building activity slows in Fort Smith (updated)

(Editor’s note: Update info is in italics.) Fort Smith building activity slowed more than 28 percent in November compared to October, according to building permits issued by the city.

The city issued 461 permits in November for construction valued at $9.41 million. For all of October, the city of Fort Smith issued 644 permits with a construction value of $16.2 million. The city collected $61,699 in fees on the November permits and $95,791 in fees on the October permits.

The value of all permits issued in November 2008 was 23.7 percent higher than November 2007 permits and 5 percent lower than November 2006 permits.

As it has been since April, the majority of permits were issued for residential repair resulting from a spring hail storm and wind damage from early summer storms. The city issued 327 residential repair permits in November valued at $1.97 million. Only 15 new home construction permits were issued in November, with the total value of those being $1.83 million.

All told, there were 356 residential construction permits issued in November for a total value of $3.87 million. There were 61 commercial construction permits issued in November for a total value of $4.47 million.

To place the repair activity in perspective, consider 6,558. That is the number of repair permits issued by the city between January and November. The number is also 307.8 percent higher than ALL residential permits (new and repair) issued in 2007.