Fort Smith metro building activity dropped in July from June, but continues to top 2024 comparisons. Building permits issued in Fort Smith, Greenwood, and Van Buren totaled $26.643 million, up 35.5% from the $19.665 million in July 2024.
Values dropped 54.4% from the $58.484 million reported in June.
Year-to-date, the three cities reported $204.453 million in permitted construction, up 41.8% from the $144.173 million in the first seven months of 2024.
Fort Smith issued 227 permits in July with a value of $24.643 million, up 25.3% from the $19.665 million value of 191 permits issued in July 2024. The city has issued $179.943 million in building permits through July, up 29.1% from the $139.369 million value of permits issued in the same period of 2024.
There were four permits issued for new residential construction of single-family homes in July with a total value of $1.063 million, down 54.8% from the $2.351 million value of six new single-family home construction projects in July 2024.
Permit totals include $3.4 million in alterations to Mercy Fort Smith at 7001 Rogers Ave., issued July 8, for foundation, utility relocation and site work. Malco Theater at 1200 S. Waldron, Central Shopping Center, Unit 140, was issued a permit July 31 for renovations of 16 auditoriums. A $10.003 million new multi-family residential unit at 8800 Chad Colley Blvd., also received a permit July 2 for 16 new apartments in phase two of 88 Chaffee Crossing apartments.
VAN BUREN, GREENWOOD PERMITS
Van Buren, the region’s second largest city, had 70 projects permitted in July with a value of $996,000, an 18.5% increase from the $840,400 value of 72 projects permitted in July of last year.
The city issued five permits for residential construction during the month with a value of $315,500, 52.5% less than the $644,900 value of six residential projects in July 2024. The city issued three permits for new commercial construction with a value of $598,000, a 262% increase from the $165,000 value of one commercial construction project permitted last July.
Van Buren had $14.768 million in permitted building activity in the first seven months of 2025, an 84% increase from the $8.013 million during the same period in 2024.
Greenwood issued 23 permits in July with a combined value of $1.004 million, 64% less than the $2.815 million value of 37 permits issued in July 2024. Through July, Greenwood issued building permits with a value of $10.721 million, up 24.6% from $8.604 million in the same period of 2024.
Fort Smith, Greenwood, and Van Buren building permit values in 2024 totaled $271.09 million, a 45% decline from $492.29 million in 2023. It was the first year since 2017 that regional building activity declined.
REGIONAL BUILDING ACTIVITY RECAP
Combined permit value totals for the three cities
2024: $271.09 million
2023: $520.64 million
2022: $480.37 million
2021: $343.28 million
2020: $265.97 million
2019: $241.74 million
2018: $231.78 million
2017: $210.84 million
2016: $211.34 million
2015: $218.89 million
2014: $198.98 million