MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING PERMITS

The number of permits issued for multi-family housing units dropped 23% in 1988, compared to 1987. Even though 59% of the permits were issued during the first six months, a slow first quarter put 1988 far off the 1987 pace and there was no second-half recovery. The vast majority of the countywide decline took place in the unincorporated areas, but the cities of Santa Ana, Irvine and Laguna Beach also had major drops. Tustin and San Clemente led the gainers among cities. Here is the city-by-city picture:

1987-’88 City 1988 1987 Change Unincorporated areas 4,484 7,184 -2,700 Santa Ana 468 1,372 -904 Irvine 805 1,175 -370 Laguna Beach 15 341 -326 Placentia 76 292 -216 Anaheim 1,555 1,743 -188 Brea 242 380 -138 Orange 171 268 -97 Stanton 7 103 -96 Cypress 54 108 -54 San Juan Capistrano 65 91 -26 Huntington Beach 544 564 -20 Los Alamitos 75 76 -1 La Palma 0 0 No change Seal Beach 0 0 No change Villa Park 0 0 No change La Habra 41 40 +1 Westminster 99 91 +8 Buena Park 164 109 +55 Garden Grove 210 146 +64 Fountain Valley 71 0 +71 Costa Mesa 928 815 +113 Fullerton 188 58 +130 Newport Beach 258 119 +139 Yorba Linda 296 84 +212 San Clemente 409 11 +398 Tustin 639 160 +479 COUNTY TOTAL 11,864 15,330 -3,466

Source: Construction Industry Research Board