HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04261988 - 2.04 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on April 26, 1988 by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Powers, Fanden, McPeak, Torlakson, Schroder
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
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SUBJECT: Growth Issues
The Board received the attached report dated April 15,
1988 related to recent growth in Contra Costa County, the Bay Area
and the State of California.
Board members commented on statistics in the report
which indicate that the major areas of growth in the County are
within the cities rather than in unincorporated County areas.
Phil Batchelor, County Administrator, noted that sale
tax records also show that most commercial and industrial
development is taking place in the cities.
Supervisor Schroder commented on the need for a
cooperative effort between the County and the cities to coordinate
growth and infrastructure needs.
Supervisor McPeak referred to growth patterns throughout
the State and the need for growth management plans to deal with
worsening transportation problems in all areas. She recommended
that a policy position be developed recommending -that CALTRANS give
priority consideration for transportation dollars to Counties with
growth management plans.
Board members being in agreement, IT IS ORDERED that
receipt of the report entitled "Recent Growth in Contra Costa
County, the San Francisco Bay Area and California" is ACKNOWLEDGED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Transportation Committee
is REQUESTED to develop a policy position for submission to
CALTRANS relative to Counties with growth management plans getting
priority consideration for transportation dollars.
E hereby certify that this Is a true and correct cop;;of
an acf on taken and entered on the minutes of the
cc: Transportation Committee Board of Supervisors on We date shown.
Robert Chung, CDD �G�b -� dG, Ige?
ATTESTED:
Community Development Director PEL sATvs; L c , CEerEa.of the Board
County Administrator of Supervisors an`', County Administrator
By c[ , Depu:y
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra
Costa
FROM: HARVEY E. BRAGDON,
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT County
DATE: April 15, 1988
SUBJECT: Report on "Recent Growth in Contra Costa County, the San
Francisco Bay Area, and California"
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
Accept the attached report "Recent Growth in Contra Costa County, the
San Francisco Bay Area, and California, " prepared as background to
the General Plan Review program.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
The report analyzes the amount and type of housing growth in the
unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County as well as the 18
cities for the year 1987. The report also examines housing growth
in the County since 1980 , and relates the population growth in
Contra Costa County in the context of growth in other parts of
the Bay Area and California.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATUR
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMEND OFBib Al
COMMITTEE ':
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S) :
CTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF PERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A
UNANIMOU ABSENT ) TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN
AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
cc: Community Developmen ATTESTED
PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
BY DEPUTY
EP/ep
growth/bdord.mem
Recent Population Growth in California (1986-1987)
According to recent population estimates released by the California Department
of Finance, the state grew by 662,000 persons between June 30', 1986 and June 30,
1987. More than one half of the gain (57%) was the result of in-migration, while
43% of the growth was due to natural increases (births and deaths) . The jump in
population was the biggest one year increase since 1942-1943, when defense
industries lured thousands of workers and their families to the State. Almost
two thirds (395,000) of the new residents live in the greater Los Angeles-
Orange-San Diego metropolitan areas of Southern California. The net increase in
the San Francisco Bay Area's population amounted to 80,600 additional residents
over the twelve month period (see Table 1) .
TABLE 1
POPULATION GROWTH IN
SELECTED CALIFORNIA COUNTIES
(1986-1987)
Population Percentage
County Increase Increase
Los Angeles 153,300 1.8%
San Diego 82,100 3.7
Orange 42,400 1.9
San Bernardino 68,700 6.1
Riverside 55,400 6.4
Ventura 14,900 2.4
Sub-total : LA-San- Diego 416,800 2.7
Sacramento 33,300 3.6
San Joaquin 14,300 3.3
San Luis Obispo 7,200 3.7
Lake 1,700 3.5
Sierra foothills/
Mother Lode (9 counties) 19,700 4.7
Alameda 14,600 1.2
Contra Costa 14,700 2.0
Santa Clara 13,400 1.0
San Francisco 300 0.0
Solano 11,500 4.0
Sonoma 10,600 3.1
Sub-total : SF Bay Area 74,000 1.3
(9 counties)
Total : California 661,900 2.5
Source: California Dept. of Finance estimates
for July 1, 1986 and July 1, 1987.
In terms of the percentage increase in population (the rate of growth) , Calif-
ornia as a whole grew at an annual rate of 2.5%. Some of the fastest growing
urban counties in the state are in Southern California, including Riverside
(6.4% increase) , San Bernardino (6.1%) , and San Diego (3.7%) . Other counties
that are growing faster than the statewide average are located in the Bay Area
(Solano and Sonoma) , in the Central Valley (San Joaquin, Sacramento) , in the
foothills of the. Sierra, and on the Central Coast (San Luis Obispo) .
In the two population centers of the state, the six counties of the huge Los
Angeles-San. Diego :magalopolis are growing at a rate of 2.7%, while the nine
counties of the San Francisco Bay Area are growing only half as fast (1.3%
annually) . The most rapidly growing region of California is the Mother Lode
country, .consisting . of-the retirement and recreation communities in the Sierra
Nevada foothills stretching from Mariposa to Sierra County, including Lake Tahoe
and some 'of the growing suburbs of the Sacramento region in Placer and El Dorado
Counties.
Population Growth in California Since 1980
Since the U.S. . Census ' taken in April , 1980, California has grown by nearly 4
million residents. The urbanized area in Southern California, consisting of the
Los Angeles Basin, Ventura and Orange Counties, and the San Diego metropolitan
region, now contains an estimated population of 15.7 million, while the State
population has surged to almost 28 million (see Table 2) .
The LA-San Diego area has grown at a rate of 17.8% since 1980, with much higher
growth rates of 34% and 38%, respectively, registered in San Bernardino and
Riverside Counties. Overall , almost 60% of the population growth that has
occurred in California since the last census, or 2.4 million new residents, has
been added in the Southern part of the State, with only 12% of the growth
located in the San Francisco Bay region.
In contrast to Southern California, the Bay Area has grown by almost one half
million persons since 1980, representing a 10..9% increase. The Bay Area is now
home to 5.8 million residents scattered throughout nine counties. Three counties
in the region have grown very slowly over the last seven years (Marin, Napa, and
San Mateo) , the four" largest counties have grown at a rate significantly less'
than the statewide average of 17% (Santa Clara, Alameda, San Francisco, and
Contra Costa) , while the remaining two northern counties (Solano and Sonoma) are
experiencing rapid growth as they change from a rural to suburban environment.
Although Contra Costa's growth rate for the 1980 to mid-1987 period (13.3%) was
higher than the regional average, it's interesting to note that in the East Bay,
Alameda County has added 40% more residents (122,000) since 1980 than Contra
Costa (87,600) .
The most recent population estimates in Table 2 indicate that during the last
year Contra Costa County has surpassed San Francisco as the third largest county
in the region, and the ninth largest county in the State. While Contra Costa has
grown at a steady rate, the population in San Francisco gained only 300 residents
between July, 1986 and July, 1987.
TABLE 2
POPULATION GROWTH IN
SELECTED CALIFORNIA COUNTIES
(1980-1987)
Pop. Increase % Increase 1987
County (1980-1987) (1980-1987) Population
Los Angeles 1,007,100 13.5% 8,484,500
San Diego 426,500 22.9 2,288,300
Orange 283,900 14.7 2,216,800
San Bernardino 307,000 34.3 1,202,000
Riverside 201,400 38.0 915,400
Ventura 99,000 18.7 628,100
Sub-total : LA-San Diego 2,375,600 17.8 15,735,100
Sacramento 164,000 20.9 947.,400
San Joaquin 97,000 27.9 444,300
San Luis Obispo - 46,500 29.9 201,900
Lake 14,400 39.7 50,800
Sierra foothills/
Mother Lode 109,900 32.0 453,800
(9 counties)
Santa Clara 126,500 9.8 1,421,600
Alameda 122,000 11.0 1,227,400
Contra Costa 87,600 13.3 743,900
San Francisco 62,600 9.2 741,600
San Mateo 36,200 6.2 623,500
Sonoma 54,900 18.3 354,500
Solano 62,800 26.7 298,000 .
Marin 5,100 2.3 227,700
Napa 6,000 6.0 105,200
Sub-total : SF Bay Area 563,700 10.9 5,743,400
(9 counties)
Total : California 3,994,900 16.9 27,662,900
Source: U.S. Census of 1980; California
Dept. of Finance estimates for
July 1, 1987. Figures have been
rounded.
Recent Housing Growth in Contra Costa County
During the year ending December 31, 1987, almost 12,000 housing units were
completed throughout Contra Costa County, an increase of 42% over the previous
year. In turn, the approximately 8,000 housing units that were completed in the
County during the 1986 calendar year was 24% higher than during 1985.
While last year' s strongest housing growth was centered in either the traditional
growth areas of the North Central cities (Concord, Pleasant Hill , and Walnut
Creek) or in East Contra Costa (Antioch, Pittsburg, Brentwood, and Oakley) ,
during 1987 residential development was strong in all parts of the County.
Almost one. third of the new homes built last year (3,381 units) was in East
County, followed by 2,925 units completed in North Central County communities,
2,819 units built in West County, and 1,970 units finished in the San Ramon
Valley (see Table 3) .
Table 3 breaks down housing completion data for each jurisdiction by type of
unit, categorized as single family homes (either detached homes on separate
lots, or attached condominiums or townhouses) and multiple family (apartment)
units. It should be noted that the data in Table 3 measure housing unit comple-
tions, i .e.- a final. building permit, not 'the issuance of an initial building
permit to construct._ Thus, the numbers are a very accurate representation of
exactly how many units were actually finished and ready for occupancy.
Housing construction figures for the years between 1980 and 1987, separated out
by city or unincorporated community, are given in Table 4, which is included
later in this report. The residential "hot spots" in the County, based upon
building trends observed during 1987 and previous years, are illustrated on Map
1, at the end of the report. Recent housing growth in each of the 18 cities and
several of the unincorporated communities is analyzed by sub-region of the
County in the following pages.
East County
In Contra Costa County, Antioch has been by far the most active location for new
home construction. In 1986, the city registered 1,200 units completed, or a
building pace of 100 new homes completed each month. During 1987, residential
construction in the City nearly matched the same high rate for a second year in
a row, with 1,105 units built.
Completed housing in the city was primarily single family homes, a change from
previous years when numerous apartment complexes had been opened for occupancy.
Much of the building has occurred in the rapidly growing Southeast Antioch area
along Hillcrest Avenue. Several thousand additional units are currently under
construction in this area, and a total buildout of approximately 15,000 homes
has been planned in the. area. The city has further plans to annex some 2,600
acres of agricultural land in the Lone Tree Valley to accommodate additional
housing growth.
TABLE 3
HOUSING GROWTH BY AREA
AND TYPE IN
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
(1987)
Single Family Multiple Family
Homes (1) Units Total
------------- ----------------- -----
EAST COUNTY
Antioch 931 174 1,105
Brentwood 105 14 119
Pittsburg 283 498 781
West .Pittsburg . (uninc. ) 359 . 224 583
Oakley (uninc. ) 518 0 518
Disco Bay (uninc. ) 258 0 258
Other unincorp. 17 0 17
Sub-total 2,471 910 3,381
NORTH CENTRAL COUNTY
Martinez 149 332 481
Concord 304 462 766
Clayton 7 0 7
Pleasant Hill 306 418 724
Walnut Creek 131 102 233
Lafayette 52 13 65
Moraga 103 0 103
Orinda 44 0 44
Unincorporated 144 358 502
Sub-total 1,240 1,685 2,925
SAN RAMON VALLEY
Alamo (uninc. ) 120 0 120
Danville 361 0 361
San Ramon (2) , 504 713 1,217
Blackhawk (uninc. ) . 270 0 270
Other unincorp. 2 0 2
Sub-total 1,257 713 1,970
WEST COUNTY
El Cerrito 5 15 20
Richmond 1,273 161 1,434
San Pablo 15 242 257
'Pinole 191 98 289
Hercules 310 161 471
Unincorporated 20 328 348
Sub-total 1,814 1,005 2,819
COUNTY TOTAL 67782 4,313 11,095
Source: Contra Costa County Community Development Department
Notes to the preceeding table:
(1) Condominiums and townhouse units are included in the
Single Family Homes category.
(2) Most of the totals for San Ramon (381 SF units and
681 MF units) include two projects, Canyon Lakes and
the Reflections, that were approved in the County
but annexed into the City upon completion. The
City of San Ramon reported 123 SF and 32 MF units
completed during 1987.
In neighboring Pittsburg, a total of 498 apartment units were finished during
the last year, accompanied by the addition of 283 single family homes or condo-
miniums. Housing construction in 1987 increased significantly over levels of the
previous year, when 534 units were completed. Most of the new units are located
in the foothills south of Route 4.
The small city 'of Brentwood experienced a slower rate of growth during the last
year compared to the previous year, when over 300 homes had been completed.
During 1987 only 105 single family homes and 14 apartment units were built.
Future residential growth rates will be largely dependent on the ability of the
city to secure a permanent water supply.
North of Brentwood in the unincorporated community . of Oakley, residential
construction has jumped sharply. A total of 518 single family homes were com-
pleted during 1987, compared to a range of 200 to 300 units finished in previous
years. Much of the growth is centered in the large Gateway project (Garrow &
Cardinale) , in a new Kaufman & Broad subdivision near Big Break, and other
subdivisions bei.ng built by the Hofmann Company, Seeno, Woodhill Development,
and others. A plan to allow several thousand units of additional housing to be
built in the area south of Laurel Road was adopted in early 1987, however, a
successful law suit over the adequacy of the environmental documentation may
delay the beginning of construction until. 1988 or later.
In West Pittsburg, the other large . unincorporated community in East County,
housing growth was also up significantly in the last year. Residential construc-
tion amounted to 583 new units completed during 1987, consisting of 359 single
family homes (or condominiums) and 224 apartments. New growth occurred in
several notable projects, including Kaufman & Broad's California Landing sub-
division, Presley Company's Amber Cove; the Lynbrook project (Crocker Homes) and
Woodhill 's Westwood Village. Housing construction is expected to slow in the
coming years, as little vacant land remains for new subdivisions.
A third unincorporated community in East County, Discovery Bay, also registered
strong growth during 1987, with 258 homes finished by either custom homebuilders
or the master builder of the project, the Hofmann Company. The planned community
of some 2,750 waterfront homes near Byron is approximately two thirds complete.
North Central County
The North Central County area includes the five northern cities along I-680,
from Martinez to Walnut Creek, as well as Lamorinda (Lafayette, Moraga, and
Orinda) . This part of the County has historically been a high growth area since
the 1950' s. Most of the cities are now reaching a built out environment, as the
last remaining vacant areas are being developed. In addition, the downtown
business districts in some of the cities are being redeveloped with multiple
family housing.
The North Central cities of Martinez, Concord, Walnut Creek, and Pleasant Hill
added approximately 2,700 units of housing last year, compared to 212 units
built in Lamorinda. The growth during 1987 was 10% higher than during
1986, when over 2,600 units were completed. The total of 2,925 units built in
North Central Contra Costa last year represents the strongest growth to have
occurred in that section of the County since the boom years of the 1960' s.
However, in contrast to earlier decades, a much higher portion of the new
development is . in multi-family apartments (1,685 units built in 1987) rather
than in conventional single family homes (1,240 units) .
Concord, the largest city in the County, experienced the greatest residential
growth in the North central region during the last year. Over 300 single family
homes were completed in outlaying subdivisions on Pine Hollow and Ygnacio Valley
Roads and elsewhere. An impressive amount of multiple family housing, 462 units,
was also built, most of which consisted of several large apartment complexes
built along Clayton Road.
Following Concord, the largest amount of new construction was registered in
Pleasant Hill , in the unincorporated Pleasant Hill BART station area, and in
Martinez. The City of Pleasant Hill added 724 housing units, with several
hundred single family homes finished in' subdivisions on the hilly northwest side
of the city and 418 new apartments units constructed in the large Ellinwood
mixed use project. Homebuilding activity in Pleasant Hill is expected to slow in
the coming years, due to the rapidly disappearing supply of vacant land which is
available ,for development, - as well, as slow-growth initiatives adopted by the
voters. .
Over 500 units of housing was completed during 1987 in the unincorporated areas
within North Central County. Much of the housing finished under County jurisdic-
tion, 338 units, was located at the Pleasant Hill BART station and on nearby Oak
Road, and consisted of condominiums and apartments designed for nearby office
workers.
The City of Martinez continued its trend of steady growth in the John Muir
Parkway area just north of Route 4, and in the neighborhoods south of the
freeway. The city added 332 apartment units and about 65 homes north of Route 4,
with 85 single family homes south of the highway. More development is anticipated
in the John Muir Parkway area under a specific plan adopted by the city, although
much of the remaining housing growth is expected to be in single family homes.
In Walnut Creek, residential construction has slowed significantly, as the
impacts . of a voter-adopted slow growth intiative are being felt. During 1987
about 100 units of apartments were completed in the Rossmoor area and along Oak
Road. New single family units totalled 131 and included the Main Chance town-
houses north of the downtown.
In tiny Clayton, almost no development occurred during 1987, although in the
last year the city approved final plans for the 1,400 unit Oakhurst Country Club
development by Presley Homes. Construction of this project, to begin in 1988,
will eventually double the size of the city.
In the older Lamorinda area, a modest amount of development was recorded, 199
single family homes and 13 apartments. Approximately one half of the development
was in Moraga, where several subdivisions are under construction. This portion
of the County is effectively built out, except for one isolated pocket of vacant
land that will be developed in the near future, the Gateway Valley in Orinda.
San Ramon Valley
The San Ramon Valley has a reputation as one of the most rapidly growing areas
in the Bay Area, although the actual number of homes that have been completed
there over the last several years has been consistently lower than in the other
three sections of the County. The rate of growth in the Valley has been much
greater than the other areas; however, because the base of existing housing is
smaller. In 1987, growth in the Valley escalated to almost 2,000 units, compared
to about 1,000 units built during 1986. Much of the recent growth is due to
construction of subdivisions in the huge Canyon Lakes project, as well as
another nearby mixed use project which includes a large apartment complex, the
Reflections'.
Canyon Lakes, a 3,700 unit planned development, is being built in the unincorpo-
rated area east of San Ramon by several different companies. The project consists
of single family, as well as multiple family "villages" clustered around a
series of man-made lakes. As phases of the individual subdivisions or apartment
complexes are completed, the units are automatically annexed into the City of
San Ramon, under the terms of a tax-sharing agreement worked out with the
County. A similar arrangement affects the nearby Reflections apartment project.
Thus, the housing unit figures attributed to,- the City of San Ramon in Tables 3
and 4 include a substantial number of units that were originally approved and
built under County jurisdiction, but have been annexed by the city.
Growth in Canyon Lakes and nearby projects totalled 1,062 units during 1987,
split between 381 single family homes or condominium units, and 681 apartments.
Completed housing projects reported by the City of San Ramon. added 123 new
single family homes and 32 apartment units.
In the Town of Danville, 361 homes were completed, primarily located in the
large Sycamore Valley area. Hundreds of additional units have been given prelimi-
nary or final approval , so strong growth is expected during the coming years. In
addition, two other large residential projects in the Tassajara area, consisting
of approximately 1,000 units, have recently been approved and annexed into the
town. Three more large subdivisions along Camino Tassajara Road have been
approved or are in the process 'of receiving approval from the County. These
developments are expected to be under construction during the late 1980's and
1990's.
At Blackhawk, the planned community of luxury homes east of Danville in the
unincorporated area, custom homebuilding has continued at a steady pace. The
project added 268 new homes in 1987. The final phase of the.`2,300 unit community
is expected to be completed during the next two years. In unincorporated Alamo,
a moderate amount of new construction (120 units) occurred in 1987.
West County
In West Contra Costa County, housing growth during 1987 doubled over. the previous
year. Over 2,800 new units were completed in 1987 compared to 1,365 finished in
1986. A substantial portion of the growth was due to condominium construction in
the City of Richmond, although steady growth has also continued in Hercules, El
Sobrante, Pinole, and San Pablo.
Richmond experienced the greatest amount of housing growth of any city during
the last year. The city added an incredible a total of 1,273 new single family
units (1,070 were attached condominiums) , as well as 161 apartments, representing
more growth in one year than even Antioch has sustained recently. Growth in
Richmond has been concentrated primarily around the Hilltop regional shopping
mall . The large projects which were active in 1987 included the Hilltop Village
condominiums and Hilltop Bayview apartments. . The Carriage Hills subdivision by
Dame Construction along Castro Ranch Road near E1 Sobrante also added 134 single
family homes.
Hercules, the former company town of a dynamite manufacturer, has consistently
been one of the fastest growing cities in the State. In 1975, the city contained
only 51 . residents; the city' s population is now estimated at about 13,000. .
During 1987 the city added 310 single family homes and 161 apartment units. A
similar amount of annual growth is expected to continue through the 1990's.
The unincorporated area of West County saw a surprising surge of growth during
the last year, consisting of 328 units of apartments and 20 homes. Almost all of
the apartment construction (296 units) was completed in one project, Hilltop
Commons (Nyland Construction) , on San Pablo Avenue near Tara Hills, between the
cities of Richmond and ;Pinole. A moderate amount of housing (22 units) was built
in El Sobrante.
Growth in Pinole doubled over the previous year, adding 191 homes and 98 apart-
ments. A significant amount of new housing was also added in the City of San
Pablo, primarily in the form of 242 apartments completed.
Growth Trends, in Contra Costa During. the 1980's
Over the last decade as unincorporated land adjacent to cities has been annexed
and developed, and new cities have incorporated, the County's role in approving
and servicing new residential areas has shrunk dramatically. In 1980, approxi-
mately 44% of all housing completions occurred under County jurisdiction, with
the remainder (56%) approved by the cities. . The cities' portion of residential
growth climbed to 67% of the total in 1982, and reached 77% in 1984, following
the incorporations of Danville and San Ramon (see Figure 1) .
Since 1984, the portion of growth occurring in the County versus the cities has
remained steady at a ratio of about three quarters of the new housing developed
within the cities and one quarter built in the County. Because of the confusion
over how to code the most recent housing completions in the Canyon Lakes area of
San Ramon (units which were approved and built in the County, but technically
completed under City jurisidiction) , data in Figure 1 for the year 1,987 has been
presented in two different ways. If the Canyon Lakes-Reflections units are
counted in the city totals, the portion of incorporated development, is 76% of
all new housing. If the Canyon Lakes units are attributed to the County, the
portion of new housing completions in the unincorporated areas rises from 24% of
the annual total to 33%.
FIGURE 1
Holi.s•incg Growth in Cities and County
(1 s80-1 s87�
s ,
76% (w/ Canyor
Lakes)
8
67%; (w/o Cyn.
7
Lakes)
tA 8 76%a/
Cities
77%
b �
o56% 33%. (w/Canyon
Cities Lakes)
3 00 44%
24 (w/o Cyn.
3
67% 24% Lakes)
23%
33%
Unincorporated Areas I
0
1.980 1.987 188.E 1883 188,E 1885 1885 1$87
Growth in Contra Costa County has added 46,800 units of new housing since 1980,
for an average of 5,800 homes completed each year. But homebuilding during the
1980's has fluctuated from one year to the next, consistent with the national
economic climate (see Table 4 and Figure 2).
The decade began on a relatively high note, as 6,240 units were finished in
Contra Costa County in 1980. Residential construction began a nosedive during
the next year, however, due to very high interest rates and a national recession.
Housing completions reached their lowest point in 1982, when only 2,600 units
were registered.
By the end of 1984, however, the local homebuilding industry had recovered,
completing 5,100 new units. The following year saw almost 6,300 homes and
apartments. built in the County, an increase of 23%. In 1986, residential construc-
tion again jumped significantly, with completion of almost 8,000 units, represen-
ting a 24% gain. During the last year, 1987, the rate of homebuilding was even
stronger, registering almost 12,000 units completed, which translates into a 42%
increase over the previous twelve month period.
The cities that have experienced the strongest development activity over the
last eight years are Antioch (approximately 5,000 new units) ; Concord (4,100) ;
Pittsburg (3,600) ; Richmond (3,600) ; San Ramon (3,500) ; and Martinez (3,100) .
As noted previously, perhaps the most surprising aspect of the most recent
development trends is the growth reported in Richmond during -1987. Historically,
the city has registered an average of only about 300 new homes or apartment
units finished each year, but during 1987 growth accelerated to over 1,400
units, more than doubling the rate of construction of the previous year.
Other communities that have added a significant amount of new housing since
1980, at least 1,000 units, include Pleasant Hill (approximately 2,600 units) ;
Walnut Creek (2,200 units) ; the unincorporated areas of North Central County
(2,200) ; Hercules (2,200) ; unincorporated Oakley (2,100) ; Danville (1,800) ;
unincorporated Blackhawk (1,500) ; West Pittsburg (1,600) ; San Pablo (1,100) ; the
unincorporated communities of West County, including El Sobrante (1,100) ; and
unincorporated Discovery Bay (1,000) . These housing "hot spots" are illustrated
on Map 1 at the back of this report.
In terms of the type of housing that has been constructed in Contra Costa County
since 1980, Figure 3 illustrates the change over time of the mix between tradi-
tional single family homes on an individual lot, attached single family units
(condominiums or townhouses) , and multiple family apartment units.
In 1980, about three quarters (73%) of the new housing built in the County
consisted of single family homes, 7% was condos or townhouses, and 20% was
apartment units. Over the last eight years, the mix of new housing has shifted
significantly away from homes on individual lots toward attached housing (either
condos or apartments) . During the construction slowdown of 1982, the percentage
of new housing that was detached homes dropped from three quarters of the total
to about 57%.
However, the portion of single family homes rose sharply in 1984, registering
about two thirds of all new housing. That year appears to have been unusual ,
since the trend toward more apartment and condominium construction has dominated
during the mid-1980' s. During the 1986 construction year, for the first time
less than one half (42%). of the housing completed in the County was detached
family homes. Much of the- shift has been away from single family homes on
individual lots toward the construction of multiple family (apartment) units, in
part spurred on by favorable taxa laws and other financing mechanisms, and the
downturn in office construction.
During recent years, the portion of new housing that is condominiums has remained
relatively constant (20% to 27%) , while apartment construction has soured,
accounting for only 14% of all new units in 1984, but growing rapidly to account
for 37% and 39% of housing completions in 1986 and 1987. For the first time in
1987, new apartment construction has outpaced single family homebuilding.
Detached single family homes represented only 35% of all new construction last
year, while apartments made up 39% and condominiums accounted for 27%.
TABLE 4
ANNUAL GROWTH IN HOUSING UNITS
BY JURISDICTION IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY (1)
(1980-1987)
Total
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1980-1987
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---------
EAST COUNTY
Antioch 478 361 273 462 267 865 1,197 1,105 5,008
Brentwood 36 79 16 5 15 100 327 119 697
-Pittsburg 443 529 246 308 196 596 534 781 3,633
W. Pittsbg (uninc) 188 223 20 75 94 137 304 583 1,624
Oakley (uninc.) 300 80 73 214 307 234 335 518 2,061
Disco Bay (uninc.) ." 187 139 92 44 112 154 62 258 1,048
Other unincorp. 111 27 12 23 (2) 15 16 17 219
Sub-total 1,743 1,438 732 1,131 989 2,101 2,775 3,381 14,290
NORTH CENTRAL COUNTY
Martinez 240 360 199 239` 1,020 371 210 481 3,120
Concord 450 272 370 280 314 841 788 766 4,081
Clayton 99 0 2 19 63 54 3 7 247
Pleasant Hill 343 292 210 135 67 311 514 724 2,596
Walnut Creek 233 ;331 96 85 210 385 591 233 2,164
Lafayette 85 47 31 13 27 25 27 65 320
Moraga 62 40 4 5 58 136 86 103 494
Orinda (2) 48 60 25 26 26 35 20 44 284
Unincorporated; 322 360 196 171 147 100 409 502 2,207
Sub-total 1,882 1,762 1,133 973 1,932 2,258 2,648 2,925 15,513
SAN RAMON VALLEY
Alamo (uninc.) 40 63 24 27 56 57 78 120 465
Danville (3) 425 310 125 63 250 155 124 361 1,813
San Ramon (4) 600 225 145 135 730 197 226 1,217 3,475
Blackhawk (uninc.) 110 110 80 120 307 268 266 268 1,529
Other uninc.. (5) 159 31 3 44 3 43 308. 4 595
Sub-total 1,334 739 377 389 1,346 720 1,002 1,970 7,877
WEST COUNTY
El .Cerrito 41 30 (1) 36 48 145 25 20 344
Richmond 449 216 146 211 237 279 665 1,434 3,637
San Pablo 249 222 31 133 81 114 11 257 1,098
Pinole 30 60 42 91 90 92 134 289 828
Hercules 275 3 70 152 273 452 478 471 2,174
Unincorp. 237 161 61 24 101 97 52 348 1,081
Sub-total 1,281 692 349 647 830 1,179 1,365 2,819 9,162
COUNTY TOTAL 6,240 4,631 2,591 3,140 5,097 6,258 7,790 11,095 46,842
Source: Contra Costa County Community Development Department
Notes to preceeding table:
(1) Data is housing completions during the calender year minus demolitions.
Totals do not include the effect of annexations.
(2) .Orifida was incorporated in 1985. (New construction totals are included in the
the unincorporated totals between 1980 and 1985.)
(3) Danville was incorporated in 1982.
(4) San Ramon was incorporated in 1983.
(5) New housing totals for the large Canyon Lakes project, originally
approved in the unincorporated area, are included in the City of San
Ramon totals for 1987.
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By examining the housing statistics for each jurisdiction in the County over the
last seven years, it becomes apparent that the steady construction activity in
North Central County during 1987 has been a consistent pattern for . some time
(see Table 4 and Figure 2) . It has only been in the last two years (1986 and
1987) that the actual number of homes completed in all of the East County
communities has surged past completions in North Central County.
Although the amount of new housing built in the North Central sub-area has been
very high, it must be kept in mind that this is by far the most populous part of
the County. Almost one half of the County' s housing stock is located in the
communities between Walnut Creek and Martinez along the north I-680 corridor and
in Lamorinda (Lafayette-Moraga-Orinda) . The housing growth measured in this area
since 1980 has been significant, approximately 15,500 housing units, although
the rate of ,growth has been relatively low, only a 13% increase between 1980 and
the end of 1987.
In contrast, the growth in the San Ramon Valley since 1980 has been a relatively
small in comparison to the other three sub-areas of the County, 7,900 units of
new housing, yet the rate of growth has been an impressive 35.9% over the eight
year period (see Table 5) . East County has grown by 14,300 units, which trans-
lates into a 28.4% increase since the last census in 1980. In West County 9,100
housing units were finished, equal to a 11.8% growth rate, which was the slowest
growing part of the. County. Overall , Contra Costa County increased its housing
stock by 18.6% during the 1980 through 1987.
TABLE 5
RATES OF HOUSING GROWTH IN
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BY SUB-AREA
Housing Units Growth in Housing Rate of Growth
1980 (1980-1987) (% increase)
East County 39,385 14,290 28.4%
North Central- 119,149 15,513 13.0
San Ramon Valley 21,956 7,877 35.9
West County 71,428 9,162 11.8
------ ------ ----
TOTAL: 251,918 46,842 18.6
(or average)
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, 1980 Census,
Tape STF 3; Contra Costa County Community
Development Department
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While the proportion of new housing that is on separate single family lots has
declined, the number of new homes that are being built is still increasing. Over
3,900 detached homes were added in the County in 1987, up from 3,250 built in
1986. Rental apartment construction grew substantially in the last year, from
about 2,900 units in 1986 to almost 4,300 units in 1987. The number of new
townhouses and condominiums also grew, from 1,600 units completed in 1986 to
almost 3,000 units finished during 1987.
Although rental apartment building has flourished during the last two years,
construction is expected to weaken in the coming years due to changes in Federal
tax- laws.
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