CLIPBOARD : Non-Residential Building Valuations

The value of permits issued for commercial construction in Orange County during the first four months of the year ran well behind the 1991 total. During the January-April period, the most recent for which information is available, permit values totaled $180.2 million, 38% less than for the comparable period last year.

Valuations lagged behind 1991 totals in all five major building categories, with industrial and office buildings suffering the largest percentage declines. There was not a single permit for hotel/motel construction issued.

Orange County is not alone in this slump, however. The four contiguous counties--Los Angeles (-26%), Riverside (-6%), San Bernardino (-62%), San Diego (-47%) as well as Ventura (-18%)--were all running behind their four-month 1991 totals as well. The statewide total was down 21%.

Of all the commercial construction permits issued during the first quarter in the urbanized six-county Southern California area, just 14% were for Orange County projects; 7% of the value of all permits issued statewide.

Here’s how the first four months of 1992 compare to last year:

1992 % of Jan.-April Jan.-April 1991-1992 6-County Building Type 1991 1992 % Change Total Industrial $12,294 $4,565 -63 6 Office 63,417 17,006 -73 16 Stores/Mercantile 28,685 25,514 -11 13 Hotels/Motels 1,211 0 -- 0 Alterations/Additions 138,343 103,467 -25 16 TOTAL BUILDING* $289,818 $180,264 -38 14

1992 % of State Building Type Total Industrial 2 Office 7 Stores/Mercantile 7 Hotels/Motels 0 Alterations/Additions 8 TOTAL BUILDING* 7

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

* Includes the above categories plus others not shown.

Source: Construction Industry Research Board