Project of the Month
Santiago Street Lofts: Santa Ana, Calif.
Santiago Street Lofts has pushed the envelope in urban live/work developments. Located in Santa Ana, Calif., the project is considered the first transit-oriented live/work loft community in Orange County–but there’s more to this project that meets the eye.
Santiago Street Lofts will feature 108 live/work lofts, allowing residents to live on two upper floors and set up shop at the ground level. But perhaps the most stand-out aspect of the community lies in its “B Occupancy” feature. B Occupancy allows residents at Santiago Street Lofts to pull city permits and make improvements to this commercial workspace. The use of roll-up storefront windows also expands the ground-level component. So for example, if a resident wants to open up a small coffee shop in their ground-level work unit, they can do so by opening the roll-up store front doors and placing tables on the sidewalk, drawing in business.
Rick Aiken, a senior principal at William Hezmalhalch Architects, which designed the community, says one of the toughest challenges was activating the sidewalk. The development was situated in a run down, non-vibrant location. Another challenge–the site was originally zoned for industrial use only. But zoning the lofts as a B Occupancy project and bringing in the live/work aspect helped the developers and designers overcome the site’s land use challenges and rejuvenate the sidewalk.
The design of each unit minimizes traffic through the home, as the living spaces are separated from the businesses with the roll-up doors and stairway access to the second and third level. Lofts feel spacious with oversized windows and vaulted ceilings. Other design elements include exposed ductwork and pipes. Units range in size from 1,534 square feet to 2,292 square feet with two-car direct access garages. Prices start at $500,000.
Shared parking with an adjacent rail station highlights the project’s urban-friendly lifestyle, allowing residents to explore other means of transportation. The community was built through a partnership with Miami-based Lennar Corp. and Santa Ana, Calif.-based Urban+West+Strategies, and William Hezmalhalch Architects.
–Abby Garcia Telleria