Building surges in Alexandria during pandemic year The Alexandria Building Department issued 535 building permits last year for projects valued at $66.56 million – a 35% increase, or $17.42 million more than 2019 when it processed 487 permits for projects valued at $49.14 million. Written By: Al Edenloff | × A UPS distribution center at 4150 Dakota Street near Target ranked number four in the city's top building projects, with a value of $3,200,000. (Lowell Anderson / Echo Press) Instead of working from home during the pandemic, Alexandria’s construction industry was busy working on homes – and commercial projects too. That’s how Lynn Timm, the city’s building official, summed up 2020 in her annual building report to the Alexandria City Council Monday night, April 12.