EBR building permits post 15% rise in February

The number of residential and commercial construction projects permitted in East Baton Rouge Parish last month was up roughly 15% over the February 2011 figure. A total of 1,912 permits were issued in February, according to a new report from the city-parish public works department, compared to 1,664 permits issued in February the year prior. The monthly increase pushed year-to-date figures ahead of 2011, after 2012 started with a 4.2% drop in permitted projects in January. The 3,515 projects permitted over January and February constitute a 5% increase over the 3,337 permitted during those months last year. The value of projects permitted in February was also up nearly 30% over last year—$56 million, compared to $43 million in February 2011. The largest commercial project permitted in February was the Repentance Park project downtown, valued at $2.9 million. The second largest was a Walgreen’s pharmacy under development at the corner of Lee Drive and Highland Road, valued at $1.8 million.