Allen County building permits hit $1 billion in 2017; most in rural areas

At a news conference at Citizens Square, Allen County Commissioner Nelson Peters unveiled two numbers he said were key indicators of the region's economic well-being – $1.032 billion in 2017 construction, split among 26,185 residential and commercial permits. The activity included building, remodeling and repair.

The dollar value of the permits topped the previous record year, 2015, by about $100 million. Commercial building accounted for $632.9 million, or just over 60 percent, while the residential side amounted to $399.1 million, just under 40 percent.

The three top-dollar commercial projects were the Parkview Cancer Center, Fort Wayne Community Schools' remodeling efforts taken together, and the $165 million Wal-Mart milk processing plant along Pleasant Center Road, Peters said.

Several permits for homes exceeding $1 million were issued in 2017, said John Caywood, Allen County building commissioner. One permit was for more than $20 million, he said.