Construction boom nears record pace in Sioux Falls

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Officials say building permits in South Dakota's largest city are the second-highest total in history and 68 percent ahead of last year.

The Argus Leader reports that permits in Sioux Falls for 2012 have a total construction valuation of almost $490 million. The 2007 record is more than $523 million.

This year's total includes permits worth $63 million this month alone for the Denny Sanford Premier Center.

Other big projects include $42.5 million for public schools in Harrisburg and Sioux Falls, $6.6 million for Vance Thompson Vision, and $19 million for the Sanford Pentagon.

Through November, permits in Sioux Falls were more than $414 million. That compares to more than $322 million in Rochester, Minn., and about $283 million in Fargo, which are two similar cities in the region.

Tags: news, updates, construction