There appeared to be little gain in the number of solar-equipped units being built. Only 18 builders, or 10.2%, of all participating firms in the survey expect to be involved in this category. In the previous survey, 12.8% of 164 participating firms reported plans to use solar systems.
The number of units planned for this year is only half of the 4,789 that were projected for 1987. Fifteen firms said they planned to include a total of 2,438 solar-energy units in the homes they build. Of that sum, 37.7% would be in single-family dwellings, 57.1% in apartments and 5.2% in condominiums.
Weinstock Construction Corp. of Studio City, ranked 59th, plans the largest total, in 514 apartments. A close second is the Pennhill Co. of Tustin, ranked 38th, with a projection of 508 units in single-family homes.
Manufactured Housing
Four companies, representing 2.3% of all survey participants, built manufactured housing units last year for a combined total of 2,338 units. In 1986, nine firms or 5.5% reported building 3,227 of these units.
The difference amounts to a decrease of 27.5% over 1986. Fleetwood Enterprises, which builds most manufactured housing units, showed a 2.1% drop in units built, 2,295 in 1986 and 2,247 last year.
However, because Fleetwood Enterprises does not make projections, production figures become guesswork.
Again this year, the only mobile home builder was the No. 1 firm, Lyon, which built 993 units last year. It plans to build 1,000 units this year. In 1986, 1,317 units were built.
One survey questionnaire was not returned in time for inclusion in the survey. The tardy firm was Master One Homes of Palmdale with sales of $1.6 million. It would have ranked in a tie 175th place.
Taylor Development Co. of Simi Valley, ranked 157th, was the only firm headed by a woman, Ellen Taylor. Her firm recorded $4.5 million in sales and anticipates a sales volume this year of $6.7 million. The production record shows 39 apartment units built last year, no inventory left and 68 apartment units planned for this year.
