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City reports mixed September building permit activity; 1,412 units in plan review
Summary
City staff briefed the committee on September permit activity: $52 million in issued project valuations for the month, 114 housing units issued, and 1,412 housing units currently in plan review with 827 approved pending issuance.
City permitting staff presented the department’s monthly report to the Urban Experience Committee, summarizing September activity and the year‑to‑date position for housing and construction projects.
Tammy Palmquist, presenting the monthly permit report, told the committee the city issued $52,000,000 in project valuations in September and a total of 114 housing units for the month. She said the year‑to‑date totals include major projects and that 1,412 housing units were in plan review as of the report, with 827 of those approved pending issuance.
"We do still have 1,412 housing units in plan review. 827 of these are approved pending issuance," Palmquist said. She also noted notable projects such as the Spokane International Airport administration building receiving a permit and several multifamily projects (Excelsior on Northwest Boulevard, Clark Avenue Apartments, Lyons multifamily) moving through permitting.
Why it matters: Committee members raised concerns about recurring modest declines in single‑family and multifamily starts month‑to‑month and asked whether the pattern was local or part of a regional or national trend. Planning and permitting staff pointed to national interest‑rate pressures and cautioned that local plan review activity and permits already issued provide a pipeline of units.
Details and context: The department reported observed housing types shifting toward middle housing (duplexes, fourplexes, small multi‑unit buildings) and cited projects in plan review and issuance counts — for example, a 96‑unit project at Peyton (coming back online) and several smaller infill projects. Certificate of occupancy highlights for the prior month included a 96‑unit multifamily building and a $7.6 million VOA Crosswalk nonresidential Certificate of Occupancy.
Follow‑up: Council members asked staff to compare local trends with other jurisdictions and said they would seek a point‑in‑time count of single‑family versus middle‑housing permits. Staff agreed to connect with council members offline for a more detailed breakdown.
