Muncie building bucks: Permits nearly $300 million for last two years

A tabulation of recent building permit amounts — the dollar figures listed on permits issued by the Muncie building commissioners' office — shows more than $293 million in projects in 2013 and 2014.

The tallying of city-issued building permits was done at the request of The Star Press. It does not include permits issued by Delaware County or the town of Yorktown for areas outside Muncie.

It might never be possible to compare 2013 and 2014 to previous years because it doesn't appear the building commissioners' office has compiled annual totals before the request from The Star Press.

But it's possible the totals from the past two years might be the highest in the city's recent history, if not entire history, Mayor Dennis Tyler said.

"I'm very pleased with those totals," Tyler told The Star Press. "I would venture to say those two years totaled are probably two of the best year's Muncie's had in a long time."

The past two years have seen some of the largest construction projects in recent history, including the $55 million Village Promenade and $5 million-plus city parking garage inside it; the $29 million Courtyard hotel still under construction downtown; commercial buildings along McGalliard Road; and ongoing improvements at Ball State University and IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital.