Construction of a new housing complex is now visibly underway at the former Mervyn’s site in downtown Santa Maria.

Crystal Bermudez is your community news reporter covering northern Santa Barbara County, including the Santa Maria, Lompoc and Santa Ynez valleys. What was once an empty department store in the heart ...

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Developers have moved close to finally beginning construction on the first of several long-planned downtown Santa Maria revitalization housing projects. "We're pretty much at the ...

From left, developer Brett Vernon and Rep. Salud Carbajal listen as Mayor Alice Patino speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Heritage Walk Lofts. Credit: Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo A ...

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - One of the most popular community events Santa Maria has to offer is getting its annual start. Some vendors began setting up at 8:30 Friday morning. Downtown Fridays is starting ...

The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is proud to celebrate a monumental milestone for our city: the groundbreaking of the Heritage Walk Lofts, the first of several transformational housing and ...

This is one in a series of stories exploring things to do in communities across Santa Barbara County. It’s a starting point for locals who want to ...

April Chavez [email protected] Aug 19, 2025 Aug 19, 2025 Updated Aug 20, 2025 Efren’s Mexican Restaurant, a longtime favorite on the Central Coast, has opened a new location at the corner of ...

A six-story building proposed for a narrow strip of land between a Santa Maria Town Center mall parking structure and Cook Street would bring 104 apartments and a business in another addition aimed at ...

A 55-year remembrance ceremony was held Saturday for fallen firefighter Alvin Newton in downtown Santa Maria. Community members and local fire agencies attended the memorial service hosted by the ...