June 1, 2022

Building activity in Sioux Falls has reached a level far beyond any previous year.

Through May, permits totaled $780.3 million, compared to $396 million last year and $233 million in 2020.

To put it further into perspective, the entire year in 2019 was $771 million.

“The numbers … are incredible,” chief building official Butch Warrington said.

The biggest jump is in new commercial activity, which totaled $539 million through May, compared with $121 million for the same time last year.

Commercial additions and remodeling projects actually are behind 2021 levels at $65.5 million versus $107.4 million.

New residential construction, which is only owner-occupied housing, totaled $145 million through May, compared with $141.5 million in 2021. The number of permits issued for single-family homes is identical at 412.

Multifamily construction is showing a surge this year, with permits issued for 1,830 units. For context, the total number of multifamily units in all of 2021 was 1,821, which was a record.

Major projects that received permits in May include:

• Canopy by Hilton hotel at the Steel District, $46.9 million.
• Millstone Apartments at 26th & Veterans Parkway, $32.9 million.
• The Steel District mixed-use building, $21 million.
• The Boundary apartments phase one, 5350 W. Vision Drive, $19.2 million.
• The Rowe on 57th Street apartments, phase two, 5001 S. Bahnson Ave., $11.4 million.
• Sioux Falls Regional Airport improvements, $5.5 million.
• DSG Waterworks office and industrial project, 5101 N. Ninth Ave., $4.8 million.
• Addition and renovations to JFK Elementary, 4501 S. Holbrook Ave., $4.6 million.
• Aldi store, 4201 W. 61st St. Circle, nearly $3.5 million.