Coachella Valley construction booms

Public Record, The, Jun 12, 1998

Building in the Coachella Valley continues at a frantic pace. Every month this year has out-performed corresponding months for the previous two years.

Construction for the first quarter of 1998 totaled more than $168 million, an increase of 68 percent above the first quarter of 1997.

Palm Desert had the largest dollar amount increase with a total of $498 million in new building construction permits for the first quarter of the year. This is an increase of 97 percent above the previous year.

The unincorporated area of Desert Sands showed the largest percent increase with $19.6 million new construction representing a jump of 130 percent.

For the cities, the biggest percentage increases were La Quinta and Indian Wells at 122 percent and 121 percent respectively. The dollar amount new building valuation stands at $328 million for La Quinta and $11.9 for Indian Wells.

Also showing increases for the first quarter are Palm Springs at $12.7 million for 82 percent, Cathedral City at $9.9 million for 1 12 percent, Indio at $9 million for 73 percent, and the unincorporated area of Coachella at $2.7 million for 31 percent.

However, some cities and areas saw a decline in new construction, despite the Valleywide building boom.

Rancho Mirage's level declined -23 percent with $15.9 million new construction for the first quarter. Desert Hot Springs had $437,000 new construction for a drop of-18 percent, and Coachella saw $533,000 new construction for a drop of a whopping- 1 percent.

In the unincorporated areas of Palm Springs here was $1.6 million in new building valuation for a drop of -57 percent.

Still, the overall construction picture is booming.

In Palm Desert, 66 permits for single family homes were issued in March alone, La Quinta issued 30 single family home permits, while Rancho Mirage gave out 25 such permits. Thirty-five single family home permits were issued for the unincorporated Desert Sands District.