Mill Valley's construction economy hits a 2026 high as downtown housing project gets its building permit

Good morning. I spent yesterday evening at the City Council meeting so you don't have to. That said, go at least once. There's nothing quite like it.

🌧️ Today's weather: Morning rain tapering off by mid-morning, then gradual clearing. High near 65°F. Partly cloudy tonight with a low around 51°F. (Source: National Weather Service)

Today's newsletter: Mill Valley's construction economy hit a 2026 high, a long-awaited downtown housing permit finally cleared, and the Hawks dropped a tight Senior Night game on the softball diamond.. This Briefing is about 744 words, a 3-minute read.

- Written and edited by Franz Strasser-Galvis

What's happening: The city issued 146 building permits in April covering $14.3 million in construction and renovation work, according to the city’s monthly permit activity report, the highest monthly total of the year. That pushes the four-month running total to $34.6 million in permitted work across 475 permits. Meanwhile, March real estate data from the Marin County assessor’s office shows 13 single-family homes changed hands at a median price of $2,825,000, nearly double Marin County's overall median of $1,530,000 and above neighboring cities like Corte Madera ($2,350,000) but behind Tiburon ($3,067,500).

Behind the numbers: Mill Valley has long had some of the highest home prices in Marin, but the permit data adds a layer to that story. The city's construction economy isn't just active: it's accelerating. In March the city collected $269,000 in permit fees. In April that figure jumped to $577,000, according to permit activity reports.