Abilene: 2015 building permit values skyrocket to $216M

​ABILENE – Although the number of building permits has remained steady in recent years, the value has skyrocketed, totaling about $216.4 million in 2015, according to the City of Abilene.

The increase, up by about $46 million from 2014, can be attributed to a strong housing market, new apartment construction and several large construction projects at both local school districts, according to city officials and home building experts.

The city is experiencing the development of multiple subdivisions of single-family homes, as well as two large apartment projects, one on the north side, the other on the south.

In the churches and schools category, building permits increased by $55 million — from $13.2 million in 2014 to $68.1 million in 2015.

While home, apartment and school construction were solid in 2015, the number of business construction permits dropped significantly, from 98 in 2014, to fewer than 60 in 2015.

Construction of the Buffalo Ridge Apartments on Antilley Rd. and the Prairie Garden Apartments on North Sixth St. contributed to a $14 million increase in building permits.

Despite the increased valuation, the city overall issued fewer building permits in 2015, to 1,252 last year from 1,278 in 2014.
The outlook for 2016 is mixed.