June 1, 2018

Sioux Falls has passed the $300 million mark for building activity five months into the year.

The value of permits issued through May totaled $306 million, up from $267.4 million during the same time last year but behind the $353 million permitted for the same time in 2016.

New commercial construction is ahead of last year, too, at $146.1 million compared with $110.4 million one year ago. Office, institutional and educational projects are largely responsible for the increase, as they have more than doubled year-over-year.

Permits issued in May for major projects include The Cascade lofts on Phillips Avenue at $23.8 million, improvements at Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital at $3.1 million and a holding barn at Smithfield at $2 million.

Housing construction is mostly on par with last year. Permits have been issued for 304 new single-family homes this year, which is 29 fewer than a year ago. There have been 400 multifamily-unit permits, which is 24 fewer than a year ago.