ADDITIONS ADDING UP

County residents have taken to changing and/or making additions to their homes at a furious rate. Last year the value of residential alterations and additions was $240 million, an increase of 26% from 1988 (or 22% in inflation-adjusted dollars). The increase is a continuation of the upward trend in residential alteration spending, in place since 1985 and almost double the amount of 1984. Last year’s figure is highest in the county in 10 years.

There are some exceptions to the countywide trend, though, as valuations in Brea, Laguna Beach, La Palma and the unincorporated areas dropped below their 1988 levels. During 1989, the city recording the largest amount on such residential changes was Anaheim, with $28 million, or 12% of the county total. Here’s how the various cities compared:

1988 1989 1988-’89 % of 1989 City Total(1) Total(1) % Change County Total Anaheim $20,149 $28,083 +39 12 Brea 1,238 950 -23 * Buena Park 3,765 5,099 +35 2 Costa Mesa 9,266 10,862 +17 4 Cypress 3,369 4,014 +19 2 Dana Point N/A 3,505 -- 1 Fountain Valley 4,266 6,414 +50 3 Fullerton 7,402 7,896 +7 3 Garden Grove 5,746 6,344 +10 3 Huntington Beach 10,762 13,433 +25 6 Irvine 5,239 5,286 +1 2 Laguna Beach 8,403 7,563 -10 3 Laguna Niguel N/A N/A -- -- La Habra 2,300 2,534 +10 1 La Palma 1,097 906 -17 * Los Alamitos 1,093 1,464 +34 * Mission Viejo 1,309 4,364 +233 2 Newport Beach 18,506 24,046 +30 10 Orange 8,910 11,560 +30 5 Placentia 1,036 1,555 +50 1 San Clemente 5,146 9,052 +76 4 San Juan Capistrano 1,091 1,542 +41 1 Santa Ana 18,516 21,417 +16 9 Seal Beach 7,071 9,535 +35 4 Stanton 808 1,104 +37 * Tustin 2,829 3,346 +18 1 Villa Park 1,748 2,508 +43 1 Westminster 5,145 6,428 +25 3 Yorba Linda 5,674 11,205 +97 5 Unincorporated Areas 29,482 28,220 -4 12 COUNTY TOTAL $191,366 $240,235 +26 100

(1): Amounts are listed in thousands of dollars; 1988 not adjusted for inflation *: Less than 1% N/A: Information not available Source: Construction Industry Research Board