EBR building permits drop in April, but valuation rises

The number of building permits issued in East Baton Rouge Parish was off by 6% in April compared to the same month a year ago, according to a new report out today by the city-parish inspection department. A total of 1,682 projects received a permit during the month, down from 1,793 in April 2011. The total value of the permits issued this April, however, was 13% higher than those from a year ago, at $42.4 million. Valued at $3.5 million, the largest project getting a permit last month was a planned Associated Grocers supermarket at Highland Road and Perkins Road East called Alexander’s Highland Market. St. Amant-based Murray’s Inc. announced in October it had purchased 3.5 acres of vacant land across from Blue Bayou Waterpark for the supermarket. Other large projects getting a permit in April include a new Verizon Wireless store at 8182 Airline Hwy. valued at $3 million; the new construction of a Cottonport Bank branch at 6500 Corporate Blvd. valued at $2.5 million; and a renovation and expansion of the City Club of Baton Rouge at 355 North Blvd. valued at $2.15 million. Year-to-date, permitting in the parish is up 1.6%, with 7,223 issued through April this year versus 7,107 issued through the first four months of 2011. Year-to-date valuation is up 45%, at $211.6 million, compared to $146.2 million last year.