The Perlman Apartments, proposed for the northeast corner of Main Street and Broadway in Santa Maria, would house 150 affordable apartments. The six-story building also would include some parking, a leasing office and other amenities.
The Perlman Apartments, proposed for the northeast corner of Main Street and Broadway in Santa Maria, would house 150 affordable apartments. The six-story building also would include some parking, a leasing office and other amenities. Credit: Courtesy rendering

Union Plaza in downtown Santa Maria could get a nearly-as-tall neighbor after the Planning Commission recommended approving an affordable housing project its future neighbors dubbed “a fancy monstrosity” at the northeast corner of Broadway and Main Street.

On Wednesday, planning commissioners considered an application from The Vernon Group of Santa Barbara and Danco to construct a six-story building consisting of five stories of 150 affordable apartments above a 40,000-square-foot podium with parking, a leasing office and other residential amenities on a 1.12-acre site at 100 N. Broadway.

Three members — chair Robert Dickerson plus Commissioners Tom Lopez and Yasameen Mohajer — unanimously recommended that the City Council approve the project after the developer agreed to some last-minute tweaks and promises. Commissioners Esau Blanco and Tim Seifert were absent.

“I do really sympathize with the neighboring residents,” Mohajer said, adding that she recognizes the value of the park for those living nearby. “But at the same time, I’m also torn because I feel like housing is so limited and the city is constantly growing. We really just can’t turn down housing opportunities, so I’m going to say I am able to support the project on that last note.”

“It looks like a nice building, and I understand what the residents are saying. People probably thought that of the Union building before it was built,” Lopez said. “People probably thought it was too big for the area, so I get that.”

He said he wished they had a little more time to review the project, before saying, “I’m on the fence.”

The Perlman Apartments building, with studio to three-bedroom units, would be approximately 71 feet tall, with roof projections and the tallest tower elements reaching 83 feet in height.

However, the new structure’s proximity to Union Plaza — at seven stories tall, it’s been referred to as “the high rise” for decades — would span from 14 feet to 28 feet, staff said, adding that alleys typically are 12 feet wide.

Tenants, some longtime residents of Union Plaza, said they value their view of the park outside their windows.

A new six-story building would replace Rosalind Perlman Park on the northeast corner of Broadway and Main Street in Santa Maria. The new structure would sit next to Union Plaza, whose residents object to the proposed "monstrosity."
A new six-story building would replace Rosalind Perlman Park on the northeast corner of Broadway and Main Street in Santa Maria. The new structure would sit next to Union Plaza, whose residents object to the proposed “monstrosity.” Credit: Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo

“How’d you like to look at a monstrosity every day? That’s what it is — a fancy monstrosity,” Union Plaza resident James Seidman said. 

Initially, commissioners said they lacked adequate information and suggested that the project return to a study session to resolve various last-minute issues. 

“For the tenants that are currently there, this becomes something that is inflicted upon them,” Dickerson said, noting that he disagreed with the plan to sell the park when the city launched the effort.

“I don’t want to make the sausage here,” he said, adding that he wondered if the panel’s various questions of a substantive nature meant the project wasn’t ready to move to the City Council. 

The developers balked at a delay since they have a tight time frame for securing key financial assistance for the entirely affordable-housing project. If the council doesn’t approve the project, developer Brad Vernon said a delay would prompt pulling the application and postponing the project for at least a year.

The Perlman Apartments proposed for Santa Maria would range from studios to three-bedroom units.
The Perlman Apartments proposed for Santa Maria would range from studios to three-bedroom units. Credit: Courtesy rendering

Lopez expressed concerns about plans for a loading and unloading zone to accommodate residents moving in or out of the new building.

The on-the-spot negotiations included Vernon agreeing to relocate an elevator to resolve that concern.

Dickerson asked whether the developer would agree to allow residents of the neighboring building’s southside units, while mirroring the rental rates, to move into the new apartments since they would lose their view of a park. 

“I think that’s an excellent idea,” Vernon told Dickerson.

Amid complaints from the panel about various issues, the applicant said the team previously addressed many concerns raised by planning commissioners, including moving the project 10 feet and adding a mural.

The City Council is expected to consider the project during its Aug. 5 meeting. 

The Perlman Apartments is one of several multi-story buildings approved or planned for the city’s downtown core.

— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.