Ground was broken Thursday on a downtown project to redevelop the former Mervyn's and Fallas stores in Santa Maria's Town Center West, during a ceremony attended city officials, developer Brett Vernon and 24th District Congressman Salud Carbajal.

The gathered officials turned dirt surrounded by heavy equipment and supporters to begin construction of the Heritage Walk Lofts — 104 loft-style apartments near the corner of Main and Broadway.

The Heritage Walk Lofts are part of a partnership between the City and the private sector to revitalize downtown — 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.

The Vernon Group is also developing the Alvin Newton Apartments and the Perlman Apartme

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