New Santa Maria city video shows downtown redevelopment

A new Santa Maria city video explains downtown revitalization projects with drone and street-level footage, and architectural drawings of proposed new buildings.

The 80-second video can be viewed on the city’s Youtube Channel.

Three developers are working with the city on downtown projects to bring in new housing, businesses, entertainment, and restaurants, sparking more life to the area. City officials say these revitalization projects will be transformative, centered around multi-story, mixed-use business and apartment buildings to help create a more walkable and livable downtown.

The Gateway mixed use development on the northwest corner of Main and Broadway (Highways 166 and 135) is currently in construction. Developer Ben Nikfarjam is building a three-story, mixed-use building with 18 apartment units and ground-floor retail.

This building is expected to be completed first, before the end of 2023, as part of this next evolution of downtown and city officials say it will provide the …