Editor’s note: This story is a component of The Compass Report. The quarterly Compass Report is managed by The City Wire, and sponsored by Arvest Bank. Supporting sponsors of The Compass Report are Cox Communications and the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Building permit value gains in Fort Smith and Van Buren helped push regional permit values up almost 6% in 2014 compared to 2013. Several taxpayer-funding projects – water park, police station and schools – helped boost the 2014 regional numbers.
For the year, Fort Smith permit values were up 6.61% and Van Buren permit values were up an impressive 85.7%. Greenwood had a 4.4% decline in permit values compared to 2013.
The combined value of permits in the three cities was $214.176 million, up 5.82% over the $195.019 million in 2013, and up more than 38% over the $154.840 million in permit values issued during 2012.
Van Buren building permit values (new construction only) totaled $16.813 million, well ahead of the $9.049 million in 2013. Van Buren's rise in building permits was largely driven by construction tied to a sales tax vote in November 2012. The vote approved a one cent sales tax for construction of a new fire station, police department, and to expand parks and build a new senior center.
During the year, the city issued a $3.127 million permit for a new senior center to be built at 607 Knox St. Also, a new Van Buren police station was issued a permit valued at $3.567 million.
Also driving permit values higher in Van Buren was the issuance of a $4 million permit in January for the new alzheimer's unit at Legacy Heights Retirement Center.
FORT SMITH
Building permit values in Fort Smith during 2014 totaled $189.445 million, up 6.61% compared to the $177.687 million and up 39% compared to $136.248 million in permit values in 2014.
Of the 2014 total, $114.809 million was for commercial permits, $40.732 million was for residential work, and $22.918 million was for apartment/duplex construction
Following are some of the larger commercial projects receiving permits in 2014.
• $26.2 million permit for the new Mercy Orthopedic Hospital at the intersection of 79th Street and Phoenix Avenue.
• $13.3 million building permit issued for the new Mill Creek Wastewater Pump Station, located at 210 Navy Road.
• $9.764 million building permit issued for the Ben Geren Aquatics Center at 7300 S. Zero St.
• $6.35 million permit for relocation of Smith Chevrolet from the corner of Zero Street and Towson Avenue to a location at 6500 Autopark Drive along Interstate 540.
• $5.1 million building permit for a 40-bed expansion that will add 25 jobs at Valley Behavioral on the far east side of the city.
• $4.7 million addition to Morrison Elementary at 3415 Newlon Road.
BUILDING PERMIT VALUES
Fort Smith
2014: $189.445 million
2013: $177.687 million
2012: $136.248 million
Greenwood
2014: $7.918 million
2013: $8.283 million
2012: $8.609 million
Van Buren
2014: $16.813 million
2013: $9.049 million
2012: $9.983 million
Combined total for the three cities
2014: $214.176 million
2013: $195.019 million
2012: $154.840 million