Construction slump hits Boca, Delray

Building permit numbers plunged in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, where filings fell 39 percent and 43 percent respectively from a year ago. Permit activity in both cities has dipped below 2000 levels. Permit fees put $300,000 in Delray Beach city coffers, though builders in the area feel the permitting process remains onerous and expensive, even in a more robust economy.