A vacant department store in Santa Maria could be the future site of about 100 new apartments if city officials decide to approve a local developer’s recent proposal.
The Vernon Group, a Central Coast-based real estate firm, is hoping to transform a 72,000 square-foot building—formerly occupied by Fallas Discount Store in downtown Santa Maria—into a three-story housing complex.
The developer is in the application process for the Fallas project and sought feedback from members of Santa Maria’s Downtown Revitalization Committee during its June 27 meeting.
Dana Eady, Santa Maria’s Planning Division manager, outlined the Vernon Group’s proposal—which she said conforms to the city’s Downtown Specific Plan. She also explained how the project will tie into a larger initiative regarding downtown Santa Maria.
“The pre-application that we’re currently working on now for Fallas is really the very first project to come in to start revitalizing this area,” Eady said. “The applicant is also looking at six other lots, or vacant parking areas in some cases, to redevelop with a mixture of residential and commercial development … . This is still conceptual, but I wanted to discuss this in context with this proposal because I think it’s important for the committee to understand the overall plan for this area.”
While the Vernon Group plans to develop additional housing in downtown Santa Maria in the future to accommodate families, the first complex proposed for the Fallas site is geared toward young professionals, Brad Vernon, CEO of the firm, said during the June 27 meeting.
The majority of apartment units outlined in the Fallas proposal, currently known as Lofts at Downtown Center, will be studio apartments, with some one-bedroom apartments, Eady said.
Apartments and common rooms will occupy the first two floors of the building, while the third floor will include a public roof deck and some private decks. Each apartment unit will include its own private outdoor space, either in the form of a patio or balcony.
Santa Maria City Councilmember and Downtown Revitalization Committee member Gloria Soto expressed support for the Vernon Group’s pitch to transform the Fallas building into a housing development, but questioned whether the complex will be affordable enough to attract its target demographic. Projected rent costs were not discussed during the meeting.
“There’s no better use for it than housing in my opinion. I would just like to say that housing affordability is something that we should be very mindful of,” Soto said. “It’s important to remind ourselves that in this area, even young professionals are not oftentimes earning top dollar.”
