Community, civic and business leaders have marked the start of construction on The Carina, a new multifamily community planned at 2828 N. Mainplace Dr. within the MainPlace property in Santa Ana. The project, developed by Lowe in partnership with MainPlace owner Affinius and owner/operator Centennial, is slated to deliver 408 apartments as part of a broader repositioning of the property into a mixed-use destination.
The Carina is intended to integrate residential density directly into the MainPlace environment, adding a multifamily component to a location that has historically been centered on retail. By situating the apartments on the Mainplace Drive address, the development will place future residents within immediate reach of the existing shopping center and other nearby uses.
The broader transformation of MainPlace also includes the emerging MainPlace Culinary District, described as a 1.25-acre dining and gathering destination. Plans call for the district to introduce a collection of locally curated culinary concepts and to function as a new gateway into the shopping center at Center Court. The Culinary District is envisioned as a hub that can draw both shoppers and residents, reinforcing the shift toward a more mixed-use environment on the site.
The MainPlace Culinary District is also expected to serve as a natural connector between the shopping center and surrounding residential neighborhoods. By placing food and beverage offerings at a prominent entry point, the concept is structured to help knit together the existing community fabric with the evolving mix of uses at MainPlace, including the future residents of The Carina.
Executives from Affinius, Centennial and Lowe joined Santa Ana Councilmember Jessie Lopez and other community, civic and business representatives to commemorate the groundbreaking for both The Carina and the Culinary District. Their participation underscored the role of public and private stakeholders in guiding MainPlace through its ongoing transition from a traditional shopping center toward a contemporary mixed-use destination anchored by housing and dining.
