Lee commercial permits jump

FORT MYERS — Permit numbers show commercial construction continued its recovery in February as the value of permits in Lee County rose substantially.

The value of commercial permits in February in Lee County rose to $45.9 million, up significantly over the $5 million in February 2014, according to the Lee County Community Development Department.

Two large projects boosted February's commercial permit values. Those projects included $28 million in interior completion of the Hertz corporate headquarters building at 8501 Williams Road in Estero and a nearly $13 million memory care and assisted-living facility with 44 residential units on Cypress Cove Drive in Fort Myers.

Meanwhile, the number of multifamily units also rose in February. Contractors pulled 74 multifamily permits in February compared with 24 in the same month one year ago.

Residential builders were more active in February too. They pulled 101 single-family home permits in February, a 23% increase over the 82 permits they pulled in February 2014.