Santa Maria keeps growing with Preisker Commercial Center

Santa Maria keeps on growing with the Preisker Commercial Center being built on vacant land along North Broadway near Highway 101.

For years the empty lot along North Broadway and Preisker Lane in Santa Maria has waited to get caught up in the clutches of progress, now that day has arrived with foundations being poured for the Preisker Commercial Center.

The project includes a new Hampton Inn, Wendy’s drive thru restaurant, at least one other food establishment and retail space.

Long time business owners and residents say it’s a welcome addition to the north of town.

“I think its cleaning the area up, it’s a good progression I think”, said Chuck Weber who owns the Meineke Car Care Center on North Broadway, “traffic might be a little bit of an issue but the commercial part of it I think is great, there didn’t used to be anything here but an old gas station and an old restaurant.”

There’s plenty of competition from existing hotels and motels nearby on North Broadway including the Holiday Inn, the city’s largest hotel, and Marriott’s Fairfield Inn and Suites.

The Hampton Inn is expected to bolster Santa Maria’s Transit Occupancy Tax base which has seen a steady increase of about three percent a year in recent years.

Completion of the Preisker Commercial Center is expected next year.