CLIPBOARD : Non-Residential Building Valuations

Commercial construction in Orange County shows no signs of recovery. During the first half of the year, the overall value of permits issued for future projects was 34% below 1990’s level. Furthermore, the values for each of the five major kinds of construction were also below 1990 levels.

The biggest difference this year: permit values for hotel/motel construction were off 93%; for alterations/additions 5%. The other three categories--industrial buildings (-53%), office buildings (-41%) and stores (-31%) range between the two extremes.

Orange County is not alone in this slump. The four contiguous counties--Los Angeles (-30%), Riverside (-23%), San Bernardino (-32%) and San Diego (-35%)--are all running behind their 1990 totals as well. The statewide total is down 26%.

Of all the commercial construction permits issued during the first half of the year in the local five-county area, 15% of the dollars were headed for Orange County projects; 9% of all the permits statewide.

Here’s how the first half of 1991 compares to last year:

1991 % of Jan.-June Jan.-June 1990-1991 5-County Building Type 1990 1991 % Change Total Industrial $45,934 $21,423 -53 8 Office 134,159 93,119 -31 21 Stores/Mercantile 114,894 68,304 -41 16 Hotels/Motels 20,577 1,388 -93 1 Alterations/Additions 200,861 191,280 -5 18 TOTAL BUILDING* $663,173 $437,374 -34 15

1991 % of State Building Type Total Industrial 5 Office 13 Stores/Mercantile 9 Hotels/Motels 1 Alterations/Additions 9 TOTAL BUILDING* 9

Note: Amounts listed in thousands of dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

* Includes the above categories plus others not shown.

Source: Construction Industry Research Board