‘MULTIFAMILY’ BUILDING ACTIVITY

A look at the number of permits issued for multifamily dwellings during the first 8 months of 1988 (the most recent data available) can reassure those on both sides of the building question. On one hand, it belies the impression that Orange County is being overrun by incessant condo wave attacks. In fact, the number of permits issued so far this year is well below the comparable figure for 1987. On the other hand, it shows there is considerable activity this year in some cities and especially in the unincorporated areas. Here is an 8-month, city-to-city comparison of this year and last, listed by 1987-’88 difference:

Jan.-Aug. Jan.-Aug. 1987-’88 City 1987 1988 Difference Tustin 160 624 +464 San Clemente 8 381 +373 Yorba Linda 84 296 +212 Fullerton 25 108 +83 Fountain Valley 0 71 +71 Huntington Beach 382 446 +64 Newport Beach 83 138 +55 Garden Grove 66 120 +54 Los Alamitos 36 66 +30 Buena Park 93 112 +19 La Habra 23 41 +18 Cypress 31 42 +11 La Palma 0 0 no change Villa Park 0 0 no change Seal Beach 3 0 -3 Westminster 80 75 -5 San Juan Capistrano 26 0 -26 Brea 300 233 -67 Stanton 82 7 -75 Costa Mesa 740 588 -152 Orange 213 38 -175 Placentia 282 49 -233 Anaheim 1,313 1,047 -266 Laguna Beach 339 15 -324 Irvine 967 247 -720 Santa Ana 1,267 405 -862 Unincorporated areas 5,593 3,366 -2,227 COUNTY TOTAL 12,196 8,515 -3,681

Source: Construction Industry Research Board