CLIPBOARD : Non-Residential Building Valuations

Commercial construction in Orange County continues in a major slump, but there are some positive signs.

During the first two months of the year, the value of permits issued reached just $92.5 million, 30% less than the comparable figure for 1991.

Valuations for office buildings, hotels/motels and alterations and additions all lagged behind the 1991 totals. But comparable figures for industrial and stores/mercantile buildings both increased significantly.

Orange County is not alone in this slump, however. The five other counties in urbanized Southern California--Los Angeles (-17%), Riverside (-34%), San Bernardino (-69%), San Diego (-45%) and Ventura (-12%)--are all running behind 1991 totals as well. The statewide total is down 24%.

During the first two months of the year, 15% of the six-county area’s permit monies were for Orange County projects; 8% of the value of all permits issued statewide occurred here.

This is how the first two months of 1992 compare to last year in Orange County:

1992 % of Jan.-Feb. Jan.-Feb. 1991-1992 6-County Building Type 1991 1992 % Change Total Industrial $1,819 $2,708 +49 6 Office 49,968 12,485 -75 28 Stores/Mercantile 8,537 15,672 +84 21 Hotels/Motels 1,211 0 -- 0 Alterations/Additions 62,513 47,426 -24 15 TOTAL BUILDING* $132,692 $92,564 -30 15

1992 % of State Building Type Total Industrial 3 Office 9 Stores/Mercantile 10 Hotels/Motels 0 Alterations/Additions 8 TOTAL BUILDING* 8

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

* Includes categories not shown. Source: Construction Industry Research Board