The number of commercial and residential permits issued by East Baton Rouge Parish building officials dropped by double digits through the first four months of the year, another sign of the slowdown in construction activity. According to the city-parish inspection division, there were 280 commercial building permits issued through April 2008, compared with 221 for the first four months of this year. Residential permits fell by 13.5%, going from 674 permits for new houses and remodeling projects in the first four months of 2008, to 583 through April 2009. Reflecting the reluctance in lenders to finance big-ticket projects, the value of the construction posted a sharper drop. The value of commercial work permitted through April was $70.4 million, compared with the value as of April 2008 of $181.3 million. Residential construction was also down more than 50% in value, from $87.1 million in April 2008, to $42.3 million this year.
Permit activity down
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