The largest single construction project of the year and a surge of five new single-family dwellings added up to more than $2.2 million worth of building permits during October, nearly doubling the year-to-date tally.

St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Aurora has been planning to expand and remodel its parish for months, and officially started the wheels in motion by filing a building permit listed at more than $1.1 million. Utility work has already begun on the project. Also worth noting on this month’s report are permits for five new homes, all valued at between $125,000 and $300,000. That nearly doubles the number of new homes in 2012 from 6 to 11. The 10-month tally for homes stood at six last year and 10 in 2010.