A boom in Fargo's commercial construction pushed the value of building permits for the first half of this year 44 percent higher than the same period last year.
The value of building permits issued from January through the end of June is $134.4 million, up from $92.6 million in the same period in 2007, Planning Director Jim Gilmour reported Monday.
"I think we're in pretty good shape" in terms of construction activity, Gilmour said.
He said he expects the value of this year's construction permits to top 2007's $265 million, which saw a big dip from the record $339 million in permits issued in 2006.
Permit totals for 2004 hit $238 million and rose to $296 million in 2005, Gilmour said.
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New commercial construction permits totaled nearly $47 million for the first half of this year. That's up from $13.85 million in the same period last year.
Large commercial projects contributing to that total include the Bethany on 42nd retirement community, Urban Plains Center and Microsoft campus construction.
Permits issued for new row houses soared to nearly $7.2 million in the first half of this year, up from $540,000 in the same period last year.
However, permits for new single-family homes and twinhomes are down, city figures show.
The value of remodeling permits for commercial properties was up considerably for the first half of this year.
Permits for 220 projects totaling $21 million were issued for the first half of this year, compared with 248 permits for $14.77 million in the same period last year, city figures show.
Residential remodeling permits saw a more modest rise, with 679 permits valued at $7.3 million issued in the first half of this year, compared with 584 permits valued at $6.12 million in the same period last year, city figures show
Readers can reach Forum reporter Helmut Schmidt at (701) 241-5583
