Looks like the new owners of The Orchards shopping center in Walnut Creek have put the kibosh on development as no work has been done for a while now. According to Supermarket News, last December, “Safeway said it has completed the sale of its real estate development assets to Terramar Retail Centers.” Since the 24 acre plot located in the Shadelands Business Park at the corner of Ygnacio Valley and Oak Grove was owned by Safeway’s “Property Development Centers”, this means that the new owner is Terramar Retail Centers, not Safeway.
I’m speculating but what if Safeway is able to renegotiate their lease at Encina Grande across the street before Whole Foods takes over? That could mean that if Terramar eventually decides to restart The Orchards development with different stores then Whole Foods could move in to The Orchards!