From staff reports

Building activity in Sioux Falls is still below record pace – but the gap narrowed in August.

Permits issued through Aug. 31 totaled $494.2 million, down from $526.4 million last year and $502.3 million the year before, according to statistics from the building services division.

The year-to-date total is down 6 percent year-over-year. In July, it was down 8 percent.

New residential construction at $166.7 million is ahead of last year’s $142.8 million. The city has issued permits for 545 houses this year, which is 27 more than the same time last year.

The biggest drop is in new commercial construction at $177.1 million compared with $234.1 million last year. Some of that likely is tied to the drop in new apartments being constructed. Permits for 648 units have been issued this year, compared with 1,323 last year.

Projects issued in excess of $2 million in August include:

• Touchmark at All Saints, $16.6 million.
• Jones421 downtown retail and condominium project, $11.4 million.
• Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital, $7.4 million for its new clinic at 7600 S. Minnesota Ave.
• Siouxland Heritage Museum, $3.2 million for its storage facility at 4300 N. Westport Ave.
• 85th & Crossing Townhomes, $2.5 million for town houses at 516 E. Clearwater Place.
• Silverstar Car Wash, $2 million for a location at 5000 W. 26th St.