Posted July 2026 | By Eric Engelbert | Updated as the project moves through design and construction.
A Nine-Story Condo Building Is Coming to Harbor and First in Santa Ana
One of the most prominent vacant corners in Santa Ana is finally moving toward development. Primior, an Irvine-based real estate investment and development firm, received full entitlements in March 2024 for First Harbor Square, a nine-story mixed-use building at 101 North Harbor Boulevard. The project will bring 181 for-sale condominium units to a site that sits at the signalized intersection of Harbor Boulevard and First Street, one of the busiest intersections in the city with over 83,000 vehicles passing each day.
This is a project that has been a long time coming. Primior spent roughly seven years working with the City of Santa Ana to move the project through the entitlement process. With approvals now in hand, the development is in the architectural feasibility and design phase as it works toward a construction start. For buyers watching the Santa Ana market, First Harbor Square is worth tracking as one of the few new for-sale condo projects in the pipeline for this part of Orange County.
The Site: A Vacant Corner at Harbor and First
The 101 North Harbor Boulevard site is a vacant lot, not a building conversion. There is nothing currently on the property that needs to be demolished, which streamlines the early construction timeline once financing and final design are in place. The site is located at the northwest corner of Harbor Boulevard and First Street in west Santa Ana, in close proximity to the 5 and 22 freeways.
The intersection sees some of the highest daily traffic counts in Santa Ana, with more than 83,000 vehicles per day on Harbor Boulevard. That visibility and access is a major driver of the commercial component of the project, which targets retail tenants including restaurants and service businesses that benefit from high-volume foot and vehicle traffic. The site falls within a federally designated Opportunity Zone, a designation that provides certain tax incentives for investors in qualified projects in the area.
Project Details: First Harbor Square
First Harbor Square is a single nine-story building combining residential condominiums, ground-floor retail, a leasing office, and a substantial open space and amenities program. The total project size is approximately 237,675 square feet. With 181 for-sale condominiums and over 15,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, this is the most urban-scale project among the new developments currently in the Santa Ana pipeline.
| Address | 101 North Harbor Boulevard, Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|
| Building Height | Nine stories |
| Total Building Size | Approximately 237,675 SF |
| Residential Units | 181 for-sale condominiums |
| Affordable Units | 10 units (included in the 181) |
| Commercial Space | 15,182 SF leasable retail/restaurant |
| Leasing Office | 1,845 SF |
| Parking | 339 spaces |
| Open Space and Amenities | 40,853 SF |
| Total Project Value | $106 million |
| Entitlements Approved | March 25, 2024 (Planning Commission) |
| Current Phase | Architectural feasibility and design |
| Applications | SPR No. 2024-01 / TTM No. 2024-01 |
Ten of the 181 units will be deed-restricted affordable homes. The project's 40,853 square feet of open space and amenities is a notable feature for a vertical urban building, reflecting the pedestrian-centric design approach Primior has emphasized for the project.
About the Developer: Primior
Primior is an Irvine-based real estate asset management and development firm with a focus on urban infill projects in Southern California. The company manages a portfolio that spans residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties, and has a track record of working with municipalities over extended entitlement periods to bring complex projects through the approval process. First Harbor Square is a prime example: Primior began its entitlement work on the Harbor and First project around 2017 and received final city approval in March 2024, a seven-year process from start to approval.
The company is publicly traded on the OTC markets under the ticker GRLT through its parent entity Primior Holdings. Primior's Irvine office handles real estate operations, asset management, and investment activities. The land at 101 North Harbor was appraised at $18 million by Cushman and Wakefield in 2023, reflecting the value added through the entitlement process on what had been a vacant and underutilized site.
Opportunity Zone: What It Means
The First Harbor Square site sits within a federally designated Opportunity Zone. Opportunity Zones were created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to encourage private investment in lower-income census tracts by offering capital gains tax incentives to investors who deploy capital in qualified projects within those zones. The designation does not affect the for-sale condo purchase process for a typical homebuyer, but it does make the project attractive to the kind of institutional investors and development partners who fund projects of this scale.
For buyers, the Opportunity Zone designation is relevant mainly as context for why a developer has chosen to pursue a $106 million project in this particular part of Santa Ana. The tax incentives reduce the cost of capital for the developer, which can support pricing decisions on the residential units. It is also a signal that the broader neighborhood is an area of targeted public and private investment, which can support long-term property values.
Pricing: Not Yet Released
No condo pricing or floor plans have been released for First Harbor Square as of July 2026. The project is still in the design phase following its March 2024 entitlement approval. Pricing will be set closer to the construction and pre-sales launch. I follow new construction projects like this across Santa Ana and Orange County and will update this page when pricing becomes available. Reach out if you want to be on the list when details are released.
Looking for New Homes in Santa Ana or Orange County?
First Harbor Square is one of several new ownership housing projects coming to Santa Ana. We track new development across Orange County and follow pricing as it becomes available. Whether you are looking to buy new construction or want to understand how these projects affect the broader market, we can give you a current picture.
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