California Apartment Association

The Orange County Register this week published the following letter by Tommy Thompson, executive director of the California Apartment Association’s Orange County Division. To read it on the Register website, click here and go to the second letter from the top. 

Undoubtedly, the new year brings a time of both reflection and excitement for most of us in Orange County. Our county is fortunate to have a large and diverse supply of neighborhoods our residents can call home.

Whether it’s a craftsman-style home in Anaheim or the city of Orange, or a modern loft in downtown Santa Ana, housing choice is an important factor that helps make our county such a desirable place in which to live and raise a family.

Orange County was incorporated in 1889 when we separated from Los Angeles County. At that time, our county’s population was under 20,000. Today, with a population exceeding 3.1 million, we are now the sixth most populated county in the United States. If Orange County were a state, our population would exceed that of 21 states.

Today, more than 1 million people in the county live in apartment communities, and that number continues to grow. In 2015, approximately 4,000 new apartment units were constructed in the county to help keep pace with our growing population. While some once viewed apartments as a short-term housing choice, the reality is many county residents now choose to live in an apartment community long-term as their preferred housing option, and for good reason.

Apartment communities are a successful way to help meet the housing demand in the county, as they are often located near community assets that are important to residents, such as employment centers, entertainment venues and shopping areas. In addition, today’s apartment communities are considered extremely energy- and water-efficient when compared to other housing options.

It’s also important to remember that housing costs are directly related to the available supply of housing. There is no better way to help ensure that housing is affordable in the county than by supporting additional housing options for our residents. If the county is to continue to remain one of the most desirable places in which to live, work and raise a family, we must ensure that all of our residents have a place to call home.

So, as you make plans for the coming year, be mindful that an adequate supply of housing is critical to helping protect and enhance the quality of life in the place we call home.