Construction underway for three new housing projects in Santa Maria

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The demand for more housing in Santa Maria is growing with the city’s population.

"We need housing in Santa Maria and so this will be almost 500 new housing
units that will be under construction this year," said city developer Cheun Ng of the City of Santa Maria.

There are three apartment projects underway: The Elements at Skyway and highway 135, Centennial Gardens at Battles and Depot and Santa Maria Studios at Santa Maria Way and Miller.

"They’ve begun grading … some have underground utilities … and some have
foundation … so they are all under construction," said Ng.

City leaders say right now it’s important to increase housing in Santa
Maria to help alleviate pressures on rent prices.

Majority of housing in Santa Maria is rented and we don’t see that
stopping anytime soon because it’s a very desirable place to live and work," said spokesperson Mark van de Kamp of the City of Santa Maria.

The Elements project will be affordable housing, and the Centennial
Gardens will be for senior citizens.

"Yes the affordable units will be helpful for it because they will be
restricted to a certain price points," said Ng.

If all goes as planned the city expects all three projects to be complete
by 2023.