March 1, 2023

The pace of construction in Sioux Falls last month tapered off from a busy start to the year.

So far this year, the city has issued building permits for $108.8 million in projects, down from $151.2 million for the first two months of 2022 and $111.1 million in 2021.

The valuation for projects in January, $62.3 million, had outpaced the first month of the previous two years.

Single-family housing continues to lag behind the trend of the previous two years. Through February, the city has issued 10 permits for new houses, compared with 56 last year and 83 in 2021.

New commercial projects are less than half the amount of last year but more than two years ago. The city has issued permits for $46 million in work, compared with $103.4 million in 2022 and $39.6 million in 2021.

Butch Warrington, the city’s chief building official, pointed out a bright spot: Commercial addition and remodeling work is showing substantial growth at $51.3 million, compared with $18 million last year and $36.2 million in 2021.

The apartment market is showing a drop, with permits for 63 units for the first two months, compared with 168 last year and 238 in 2021.

Here’s a look at some of the larger projects that received permits in February:

• Great Plains Zoo lion and meerkat exhibit, $7.6 million.
• Peace Lutheran Church addition of music hub and family activity center, 5509 W. 41st St., $6.2 million.
• Prairie Dental Center, 7000 S. Santa Rosa Court, $2.8 million.
• MarketBeat build-out in Cherapa Place II, 245 N. Reid Place, $2.4 million.
• Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center cafeteria renovation, 1325 S. Cliff Ave., $2.2 million.
• “White-box” renovation for future tenants, 3809 E. 10th St., $2.2 million