Countywide : CLIPBOARD : Non-Residential Building Valuations

Along with home-building, non-residential construction is taking a beating in Orange County. The value of commercial (i.e., non-residential) building permits during the first nine months of 1990 is down 19% compared to last year. Orange County has been hit harder than its neighbors, among whom San Diego is faring worst, with a 10% decline (and two, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, have increases over last year’s comparable period). Statewide, valuations are down just 3%.

The only real bright spot in Orange County non-residential building is with stores, where there has been a 24% increase in permit values. All other categories have dropped, in a couple of cases by half.

Here is how things stand after nine months:

9 Months 9 Months 1989-’90 Building Type 1989 1990 % Change Industrial $103,003 $53,435 -48 Office 271,852 172,178 -37 Stores/Mercantile 137,428 169,782 +24 Hotels/Motels 65,713 30,808 -53 Alterations/Additions 368,402 301,529 -18 TOTAL NON-RESIDENTIAL BUILDING $1,137,526 $920,428 -19

% of 1990 Building Type State Total Industrial 4 Office 11 Stores/Mercantile 11 Hotels/Motels 9 Alterations/Additions 9 TOTAL NON-RESIDENTIAL BUILDING 9

Note: Amounts listed in thousands of dollars, not adjusted for inflation; “total” category includes permit activity not shown above. Source: Construction Industry Research Board