FOREIGN BOOM: The number of foreign-born students...

FOREIGN BOOM: The number of foreign-born students is growing faster at Mission College in Sylmar than at any of the other nine campuses in the Los Angeles Community College District, according to a new survey. District spokeswoman May Chen attributed the increase mostly to students living “in this country less than five years.” . . . Of those, 16% are Central American and just under 16% are Mexican; many others come from the Philippines and China.

ADD SCHOOLS: Districtwide, the number of students from other countries grew to 47% in 1993. “There is a very negative image of immigrants,” Chen said. “But many of these foreign-born are not academically underprepared. They are quite well-prepared and have high educational aspirations. The only thing they need help on are language skills.”

ALL WET? Seagram Co. Chief Executive Edgar Bronfman Jr. had nothing to say Wednesday at a shareholders meeting about whether he’d hire talent agent Michael S. Ovitz to run newly acquired MCA. . . . But he did say he likes the new Universal flick “Waterworld.” (D2).

WHAT GLUT? Nationwide, there were 350,000 unsold new homes at April’s end, the Commerce Department says--the highest level in nearly five years. But not in the Antelope Valley. . . . Market analyst Tom Thompson, recalling the housing glut in 1990, notes that there has been little new home construction since. And now the backlog of new homes is drained. Said Thompson: “What is new is being sold.”

PARKING SPACE: A former Lockheed Aircraft Co. employee parking lot in Burbank today becomes the new, $7.3-million home for an entertainment industry firm. . . . Agfa’s warehouse--which will employ 100 people--is the first Lockheed parcel sold for new construction since the company began phasing out operations in 1991, said Burbank city officials.

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Foreign Students

Foreign-born student increases in L.A. community colleges:

1991 1992 Mission College 32.3% 45.9% (Up 13.6%) Pierce College 32.1% 39% (Up 6.9%) Valley College 40.2% 44.4% (Up 4.2%)

Source: Community colleges