The city of Santa Maria will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the Heritage Walk Lofts, 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 7 in front of the former Mervyn’s/Fallas store in Santa Maria Town Center West.

Heritage Walk Lofts by The Vernon Group will transform a vacant downtown department store into 104 loft-style apartments.

The project is a partnership between the city and the private sector to revitalize downtown, the city said.

The redevelopment of the 85,900-square-foot building marks the first in a series of several developments by The Vernon Group in Santa Maria’s downtown core.

Questions may be directed to Chenin Dow, Community Development Department director, 805-925-0951 ext. 2375.