|
|
Santa Ana real estate development is surging and more...
Santa Ana real estate development is surging SANTA ANA, Calif. – The City of Santa Ana has reached a historic milestone in its development trajectory, issuing over 9,500 building permits for an all-time high construction valuation of $772 million in 2023. This remarkable achievement – more than double the construction valuation of past years – demonstrates the City’s commitment to responsible growth and development that will benefit the community through the creation of new housing, jobs and businesses.  “Santa Ana stands as a beacon of opportunity and growth in Orange County,” Mayor Valerie Amezcua said. “With over $772 million in permit valuations last year alone, we are witnessing unprecedented momentum in our development landscape, reflecting our business-friendly policies at City Hall and our community’s vibrant entrepreneurial spirit.”  Santa Ana houses nearly 25,000 businesses, encompassing both small businesses and major corporations, including a Fortune 500 company and several national corporations with headquarters in the city. Positioned near an international airport and major freeways, it is one of few Southern California cities with a vibrant and multicultural downtown entertainment, shopping and business district.  Developers have recognized the value of investing in Santa Ana, which is the third-largest city in Orange County by population and 14th largest in California with 310,000 residents and a daytime employment population of 295,520.  The City updated its General Plan in 2022, laying the groundwork for new mixed-use development opportunities. The City is also embarking on a comprehensive Zoning Code update that will modernize its codes, streamline project application review processes, and provide clarity on land use regulations. Additionally, the City is developing plans for the five Focus Areas of the General Plan to serve as a roadmap for connecting new development with essential physical improvements, infrastructure and street design, fostering walkability, sustainability and community well-being.  A multitude of exciting projects are in the works, including:
 Click here for a map of all major projects currently in various stages of development.  Watch the video below highlighting three major projects and hear from the developers who are investing in Santa Ana here.  Santa Ana continues to attract investment and innovation, making it an exciting destination for residents and businesses alike as it moves forward with a renewed sense of growth and prosperity.     • View comments • Track comments • Woman arrested for stealing items at a storage facility in Irvine Yesterday, a man left a cart full of property in the lobby of a storage facility near Jamboree and Warner. When he returned, the cart and items were missing, according to the Irvine Police Department. A patrol officer responded and began investigating. After reviewing surveillance video, it was determined that another customer took the cart and placed the stolen property in their car and storage unit. The officer quickly located the 41-year-old suspect from Mission Viejo and arrested her for burglary and for possessing narcotics. Criminals often forget that the world is full of surveillance cameras now…   • View comments • Track comments • A fire at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at the City Place was quickly extinguished The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf located at the City Place, across from the MainPlace Mall, will be shut down for a while after a fire broke out early this morning, just before 7 a.m. It was a one alarm fire but at least four OCFA fire trucks showed up.  An employee reoprted that the problem started with an oven that had a big flash, likely an electrical short. A fire started which they put out with a fire extinguisher. However the fire spread inside the adjacent wall, likely in the insulation. The fire crews used both fire extinguishers and water to quickly extinguish the blaze – which was out by 7:30 a.m. No injuries were reported. Property damage is not yet known but likely extensive.   • View comments • Track comments • GoFundMe officially expands to Mexico GoFundMe today announced its expansion into Mexico, one of the largest economies in Latin America. Mexico becomes the 20th country fully supported on the GoFundMe platform and is the company’s first international expansion in nearly six years. “Launching in our 20th country is a huge milestone which will provide people across Mexico with a safe, easy, and powerful way to raise money for the people and causes they care about. ” said Tim Cadogan, GoFundMe CEO. “Every country we’ve gone into has adopted GoFundMe in its own unique way but there is a common underlying theme shared everywhere: the desire to help each other is a universal human truth.”  GoFundMe organizers in Mexico can now create fundraisers, accept donations, and withdraw funds in Mexican Pesos (MXN). This expansion is part of the company’s broader effort to safely deliver even more help from its global community, which together with its nonprofit platform, already totals more than $30 billion since 2010. GoFundMe is experiencing rapid adoption throughout the world, with 400% growth in donation volume in non-English language countries over the last six years. About GoFundMeGoFundMe is a community-powered fundraising platform dedicated to helping people help each other. Founded in 2010, GoFundMe combines storytelling and fundraising to make it easy for people to ask for help, connect with supporters, and reach their goals. GoFundMe gives people a way to make a meaningful difference for the causes and communities that are most important, urgent, and relevant to them and society.   • View comments • Track comments •
Santa Ana gangbanger gets life in prison without parole for killing an innocent man Alexis Ascencion, a 25-year-old Santa Ana resident, was sentenced on Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the gang-related fatal shooting of a man outside an apartment complex in Santa Ana that happened six years ago. Ascension was convicted on Feb. 15 of felony charges of first-degree murder and participating in gang activity, with special circumstances of gang activity and sentencing enhancements for discharge of a gun causing death.  Asencion’s co-defendant, Felix Martinez Vargas of Santa Ana, pleaded guilty on Sept. 2, 2022, to voluntary manslaughter and his sentencing is still pending. Both suspects were charged in connection with the killing Mariano Labra Ramos, a 36-year-old Santa Ana resident, on Dec. 1, 2017. Authorities said Ascencion mistakenly though Ramos was a rival gang member. Orange County Superior Court Judge Richard King further stuck it to Ascension by adding an additional 25 years to life in prison to his life without parole sentence. Judge King also punted a request from Ascencion’s attorney to waive a prior strike to lessen the punishment. King described Asencion’s criminal actions as “payback.” Judge King also purported that Ascencion drove into rival gang territory and randomly selected a victim. King also said that Ascension’s actions were intentional and there was no justifiction for it. He deemed the case to be “aggravated.” Judge King decried the shooting as being a “senseless act of violence.” and he said the shooting was done “to show strength of Ascension’s gang.” Ascencion’s innocent victim Ramos “was going out to get salt to make dinner for his wife, who was blind,” Judge King said. The couple had a “healthy marriage” and Ramos was the main provider, according to Judge King. Judge King is not done with Ascension. He has scheduled a June 28 hearing to consider if Ascension can be ordered to provide restitution out of his earnings as an inmate. Vargas testified in Ascencion’s first trial in July of 2022. A mistrial was declared when jurors deadlocked 11-1 in favor of guilt. That means one ridiculous juror thought Ascension was not guilty! The defendants, along with two boys, ages 15 and 16, drove into rival gang territory when they saw two men in front of an apartment complex between 1913 and 1909 W. Myrtle St., according to the prosecutors in a trial brief. Ascencion asked Vargas, the driver, to stop before Ascencion jumped out and opened fire on the innocent victim, wounding him in the leg with two shots, according to the prosecutors. A bullet struck a main leg artery and Ramos, who had no gang ties, quickly bled to death, according to the prosecutors. Ascencion ran like a coward back to the car and the gangbangers then fled the area. Police found the vehicle involved in the shooting just before 9 p.m.that night and stopped the driver.   • View comments • Track comments •
New Santa Ana blog posts
|
|||||||