New construction in the Huntsville area topped $321 million through the first two months this year.

Of the $321 million, $169 million is being spent on 476 projects within the city limits of Huntsville alone, according to permits pulled by Southern Exposure Information.

There are 164 projects in Madison County totaling $48.6 million, 38 in Madison totaling $58 million, 48 in Decatur exceeding $28.6 million, 52 in Athens surpassing $17 million and five projects in Priceville approaching $704,000.

The top builder for new construction as of Feb. 27 is Hardaway Construction of Nashville, which is building the Mural@Stovehouse apartment community at 2900 Fourth Avenue N.W. being developed by Tennessee-based Bristol Construction Group.

A total of five permits for the project, totaling $44 million, have been issued for the one-and-two-bedroom apartment community, which will be within walking distance of entertainment and restaurant venue Stovehouse on Governors Drive.

Indiana-based MacDougall Pierce is the builder for the second most expensive project of the year. It is working on BJ’s Wholesale Club in Town Madison. Two permits totaling $26.5 million have been issued for the project at 165 Graphics Drive.