Dec. 2, 2019

With one month left to go in the year, Sioux Falls building activity is nearly even with last year’s record pace.

Through November, permits in the city totaled $729.8 million, or $5 million behind the same time in 2018.

But while the numbers are nearly equal, the story behind them is different year-over-year.

New commercial construction in 2019 has totaled $314.7 million, outpacing last year’s $266.5 million. Commercial additions and remodeling projects are behind 2018, though, totaling $147.6 million, compared with $204.8 million.

Major projects that received permits in November include the Roseland Heights Apartments at 4700 E. Third St. at nearly $4 million and part of the renovation at the State Theatre at $2.3 million. Avera Health also took out a $2 million permit for storm-related repairs to its corporate office at 3900 W. Avera Drive.

New residential construction is behind 2018, totaling $205.5 million through November, compared with $214.4 million, and reflecting 602 new single-family homes. That’s 54 fewer homes than the same time last year.

Residential remodeling is ahead of last year at $62 million, compared with $49.2 million.

Permits have been issued for 579 multifamily units this year, compared with 928 last year. That reflects an adjustment by the city to account for some units that had been counted twice this year.