An existing office building near Santa Ana’s MainPlace Mall is poised for a major shift in use, as Core Development Group moves ahead with plans to convert the 12-story tower at 2700 Main Street into housing. The project aims to reposition the decades-old commercial structure as a residential community featuring 158 one- and two-bedroom apartments above new ground-floor commercial space.
The scope of work calls for the existing 116,000-square-foot building to be adapted to accommodate the residential program without altering its overall height or structural frame. The proposal also includes approximately 7,750 square feet of retail or commercial uses at street level, intended to activate the corner and tie the property more closely to surrounding pedestrian routes.
The tower’s shift from office to housing reflects ongoing changes in the MainPlace corridor, where legacy employment buildings face declining demand while residential needs continue to rise. The building’s relatively narrow floor plates and strong daylight access make it a viable candidate for adaptive reuse, enabling a transition to apartments with minimal reconfiguration of the façade beyond interior retrofits and new common areas.
Although 2700 Main remains one of the most visible tall structures in this part of Santa Ana, it is not alone in signaling a change in local land use patterns. Nearby sites have recently been evaluated for redevelopment, including a property at 2020 East First Street where a townhome community is planned to replace a 1980s office complex. Together, these projects illustrate an emerging trend in which older commercial buildings are repositioned to meet regional housing goals.
The reimagining of the tower is expected to add a substantial new residential presence within a highly accessible part of the city, located near major thoroughfares, retail destinations, and transit connections. Once completed, the project would mark one of the largest adaptive reuse undertakings in Santa Ana in recent years and contribute to a growing pipeline of infill housing within the city’s core.
The conversion timeline anticipates completion in 2027.
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
Be the first to comment on "Conversion Planned for 12-Story Tower at 2700 Main Street in Santa Ana"