Posted July 2026 | By Eric Engelbert | Updated as the project moves through the approval process.
60 For-Sale Townhomes Proposed in West Santa Ana
A Torrance-based real estate company called Storm Properties is proposing to replace a vacant industrial property in west Santa Ana with 60 three-story for-sale townhomes. The site sits at the corner of West 1st Street and South Mountain View Street, close to the intersection of several major freeways, and the project would be one of the first new for-sale ownership communities to come to this part of Santa Ana in recent years.
The project is in the early stages of the city review process as of July 2026. It still needs Planning Commission and City Council approval before construction can begin. This blog covers what we know about the project, the land deal, and the developer behind it. We will update this page as the project moves through approvals.
What Was There Before: An Industrial Site
The property at 4320 W. 1st Street and 201 S. Mountain View Street was an industrial facility: a 11,300-square-foot warehouse building on a fully fenced concrete yard. The site benefits from dual street frontage on both W. 1st Street and Mountain View Street, with convenient freeway access to the 22, 405, 5, and 55. The building was vacant when Storm Properties acquired it.
Storm Properties purchased the industrial site in May 2025 for $5.95 million. The stated intent at the time of purchase was to market the facility for industrial or outdoor storage lease. By September 2025, the company had shifted its plans toward residential development, hosting a community neighborhood meeting to introduce the proposed townhome project. The property consists of two separate primary parcels that would be merged as part of the development.
The existing warehouse building would be fully demolished to make way for the residential community. The current zoning is Community Commercial (C1) and Light Industrial (M1). The project proposes a change to a Specific Development (SD) designation, which requires General Plan and zoning approvals from the City of Santa Ana.
The Numbers: What Storm Properties Paid
Storm Properties acquired the two-parcel site for $5.95 million in May 2025. At 3.266 acres, that works out to approximately $1.82 million per acre. Spread across 60 planned townhome units, the land cost is roughly $99,000 per door before any entitlement, construction, or carrying costs. For a for-sale townhome project in Orange County, that is a favorable land cost compared to many infill sites, which reflects the industrial nature of the property and the entitlement risk the buyer is taking on.
| Land Purchase Price | $5.95 million (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| Price Per Acre | Approximately $1.82 million |
| Land Cost Per Unit | ~$99,000 (60 units) |
| Prior Use | Industrial warehouse and outdoor storage (vacant) |
| Prior Zoning | Community Commercial (C1) / Light Industrial (M1) |
| Proposed Zoning | Specific Development (SD) |
Project Details: What Is Being Proposed
Storm Properties is proposing 60 three-story attached townhomes arranged across nine buildings. Three of the 60 units are live/work units that would face West 1st Street and Mountain View Street, giving the project a street-active presence at both street frontages. Three units (5% of the total) would be restricted for very low-income households as part of the project's density bonus agreement with the city.
| Address | 4320 W. 1st Street and 201 S. Mountain View Street, Santa Ana |
|---|---|
| Total Units | 60 (57 townhomes + 3 live-work) |
| Building Height | Three stories |
| Number of Buildings | 9 |
| Parking | 135 spaces |
| Common Open Space | 10,577 SF |
| Affordable Units | 3 units restricted for very low-income households (5%) |
| Site Size | 3.266 acres |
| Ownership Type | For-sale (ownership, not rental) |
| Application Number | DP-2025-17 |
| City Planner | Nancy Tran, AICP — Senior Planner |
Floor plan sizes and pricing have not yet been released publicly. I track new construction projects like this across Orange County and will update this page when pricing and floor plans become available.
Where the Project Stands: Approvals Still Needed
As of July 2026, this project is in the Development Project Review stage with the City of Santa Ana. It has not yet received Planning Commission or City Council approval. Because the site requires a zone change from industrial to residential, the project needs a larger package of approvals than a standard by-right development. Specifically, the city must approve a General Plan Amendment, a zone change, a tentative tract map, density bonus waivers and concessions, a lot merger for the two parcels, and a State Density Bonus Agreement.
The density bonus agreement targets 24 dwelling units per acre, which is the threshold that triggers the bonus and unlocks incentives such as reduced setbacks or parking requirements. Once Planning Commission approves the project, it moves to City Council for final adoption. There is no confirmed timeline for those hearings as of the date of this post.
Storm Properties held a community neighborhood meeting in June 2025 and a second community meeting later that year to gather resident input before the formal hearing process. That community process is now complete and the project is working through city staff review.
About the Developer: Storm Properties
Storm Properties is a Torrance-based real estate firm that develops, owns, and manages residential, industrial, and commercial properties. It is a subsidiary of Storm Industries Inc., a Torrance company that traces its roots back over 90 years to a brass foundry in Los Angeles. Storm Industries has grown into a diversified group of businesses operating across the country and internationally.
Storm Properties focuses on multifamily acquisitions, residential land development, and industrial properties in Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, and Phoenix. The company's residential track record includes more than 60 communities developed over its history, including detached single-family and attached townhome projects in Southern California. Prior local projects include a 48-home detached single-family community in Torrance and a 127-unit multifamily community in Santa Fe Springs. The Santa Ana project represents the company's entry into the Orange County ownership housing market.
Looking for New Homes in Santa Ana or Orange County?
We follow new development projects across Santa Ana and Orange County and will update this page as this project moves through the approval process. If you are looking to buy a new townhome in the area, or want to understand how new construction is affecting values in surrounding neighborhoods, reach out and we can give you a current read on the market.
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