Number of EBR building permits down slightly in June, but valuation way up

Published Jul 11, 2012 at 3:00 pm (Updated Jul 11, 2012)

At 2,018, the number of building permits issued in East Baton Rouge Parish in June was down 2% compared to those issued in June 2011, according to a new report out today by the city-parish Department of Public Works. The report says the number of commercial projects permitted rose to 90 in June, compared to 74 in June last year. Fewer residential permits were issued: 127, compared to 169 in June 2011. The largest project receiving a permit on the month was the new school to be built at 855 Progress Road. The two-story, 86,500-square-foot facility is valued at $14.9 million in the report. Another large project—a new student housing apartment complex planned on West McKinley Street and valued at $13.2 million—helped pushed total valuation of permits in June up 55% compared to June 2011. A total of $81.4 million worth of projects were permitted, compared to $52.5 million in June last year.