Beyond the Creek

Broadway Plaza Demolition Possibilities

March 22, 2012 12:00 pm

Broadway Plaza (after demolision)

Broadway Plaza (current)

The Walnut Creek City Council is considering selling the street that runs between Nordstrom and the fountain to Broadway Plaza. However, reading through the Draft Environmental Impact Report, what struck me was the other planned changes involved with turning the street into a pedestrian plaza.

It would involve the demolition of many parts of Broadway Plaza to, “encourage diverse housing options, including mixed-use, higher-density development”, presumably meaning apartments built over the retail stores.

The next photo shows what will happen to Stanford’s Restaurant, across the street from the soon to be opened Corners Tavern and Boulange Bakery, replaced by multi-level buildings, again presumably for apartments on the top floors.

Stanford’s Restaurant (after demolition)

Stanford’s Restaurant (current)

Note that the photos above only show height elements, not the actual design and other elements. To see a possible view including shrubbery, take a look at the following drawing which can be viewed in the Walnut Creek City Council agenda report:

So considering the possibility of large swaths of Broadway Plaza being demolished to make room for mixed-use, higher density development, along with the conversion of the street to a pedestrian usage, do you think this will be good for Walnut Creek?

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Closed – Mika Specialty Salon

March 22, 2012 8:30 am

Last month I noted that Studio Blue Digital Print and Copy was for lease, and now Mika Specialty Salon, located right next door on Locust St. has closed as well. According to their website, they had been in business there for 11 years.

Now that the entire building has vacated, I wonder what the owner has in store. It’s a prime location right in downtown Walnut Creek.

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Sketch Released of Subject who Approached Walnut Creek Intermediate Student

March 22, 2012 8:00 am

On Monday I noted that Walnut Creek police were searching for a man who approached a Walnut Creek Intermediate student twice while walking home from school. Now, a sketch has been released. Please contact the Walnut Creek Police Department at 925-943-5844 if you have seen this man, or a “faded red, older model compact sedan, blue disabled placard hanging from rear view mirror, unknown license plate.”

Interestingly, if you view the sketch at full size, it’s possible to read some more charcteristics written down by the artist that is not in the police report press release. The additional features are:

“no facial hair”
“some freckles”
“no noticeable tattoos”
“European accent (slight)”

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Downtown Walnut Creek Parking Meters to Accept Credit Cards

March 21, 2012 4:00 pm

From a Walnut Creek press release:

MARCH 21, 2012 — Parking in Walnut Creek is about to get easier with new meters that accept credit cards. More than 1,000 of the meters will be installed throughout the downtown in early April. The easy-to-use meters will accept coins or credit cards, said Matt Huffaker, Assistant to the City Manager.

Parking in Walnut Creek is about to get easier with new meters that accept credit cards. More than 1,000 of the meters will be installed throughout the downtown in early April. The easy-to-use meters will accept coins or credit cards, said Matt Huffaker, Assistant to the City Manager.

The new meters communicate wirelessly, accept secure credit card payments and allow the City to monitor each meter’s status to ensure they are functioning properly.

There will be no paper receipts and no need to remember space numbers. Patrons will simply park, slide their card into the meter and be on their way.

“Installing state-of-the-art parking meters is just the first step towards making parking easier to find and easier to pay for in Walnut Creek,” said Huffaker.

In addition to the new meters, other plans in the works include clearer parking signage and using technology to provide real-time (on- and off-street) parking availability information via smart phones and the Internet.

Reading between the lines, I would be extra careful about being late in getting to your car as I imagine parking enforcement will have an easier time determining who is overstaying their time slot.

Maybe Yogurt Park will be next in accepting credit cards?

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Pre-Preview: Corners Tavern, Contemporary American, Opening March 28th

March 21, 2012 11:30 am

Yesterday I had a chance to check out the progress at Corners Tavern coming to 1342 Broadway Plaza in downtown Walnut Creek next to Macy’s and Boulange Bakery. Above you can see two massive 13×34 foot roll-up garage doors with space for outdoor seating.

From a press release:

Corners Tavern is named after the original designation of the area: in 1849, the town of Walnut Creek was originally named “The Corners.” In 1862, the first post office went in and it was renamed “Walnut Creek.” Corners Tavern is housed in what was a blacksmith warehouse that served the local community, at what is now the corner of South Main Street and Broadway Plaza.

Corners Tavern will be open seven days a week for dinner and will begin serving lunch a few weeks after opening. Reservations will be available via SeatMe.

Below you can see the main dining area:

There will be 16 beers on tap at the horseshoe-shaped bar that can handle up to 32 people.

The cuisine will be contemporary American, and will, “feature big, bold flavors modeled on the beloved classic English pub and a beverage program that respects the classics with a nod toward small production, local producers.”

From the press release:

Owner Mitchell Rosenthal and Chef Esteban Escobar are bringing big flavors to the menu, with a focus on local, organic & sustainable ingredients. Menu items will include snacks such as duck fat roasted potatoes and herb crème friache and pork cracklins with aleppo pepper and honey; small plates such as baked apples, gorgonzola and membrillo and pork belly with arbol chilies, pineapple, cabbage and radish salad; and larger plates that feature dishes like house made lamb sausages, soffrito and fava beans and grilled swordfish, braised artichokes, fennel, chorizo, watercress and lemon vinaigrette.

A preliminary menu, subject to change, can be viewed here. I can’t wait to try the pork belly and house made lamb sausages. Mmm! You can read an interview with the executive chef Esteban Escobar here.

Check out photos of the snake cages, private dining area & more after the jump

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U Threads Closing at Broadway Plaza

March 21, 2012 8:30 am

U Threads, the Cal related clothing store located on the back side of Broadway Plaza will be closed by next week, so if you’ve been waiting for some Cal gear now is your chance to pick something up at 40% off. The SFO store will also be closing with only the Stanford gear at the Palo Alto store remaining for now, although they plan on reopening elsewhere in the future.

It looks like some retailers are having a hard time on this side of Broadway Plaza. Last week I noted that Super Silver Jewelry, located right next to U Threads, recently closed as well.

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The 5pm Post: Walnut Creek Open Space Talk, “Why Trees?” This Evening

March 20, 2012 5:00 pm

Photo by flickr user redyaffle

The Walnut Creek Open Space staff are giving a talk titled, “Why Trees?” from 7 – 8pm this evening at Howe Homestead Park.

We’ll be discussing the facts and fancies about three of the most common trees found in the Open Space — the oak, sycamore and walnut. Learn about the benefits to wildlife from these species as well as cultural information from around the world. We’ll be in the Dutch Kitchen at Howe.

View Larger Map

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Peet’s Coffee in Downtown Walnut Creek Closed for Remodel until March 24th

March 20, 2012 4:30 pm

I observed a few people attempting to enter Peet’s Coffee in downtown Walnut Creek on Locust St. only to realize that it’s undergoing a remodel and won’t reopen until Saturday, March 24th. It’s already the 20th so looks like they have quite a bit more work to do. In the meantime you can go to a nearby Starbucks, Cafe La Scala, or Saxbys to get your caffeine fix. If it has to be Peet’s then you’ll have to head out to Ygnacio Plaza or Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette for the nearest Peet’s.

Any Peet’s fans? I like the teas.

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Judging Restaurants – Prima Ristorante

March 20, 2012 11:30 am

Prima Ristorante is one of the better known restaurants in downtown Walnut Creek, located at 1522 N. Main St. Their website says:

Prima Ristorante welcomes guests for a celebration of Italian food and connection around the table. Over 34 years ago, Prima was at the very forefront of the wine and food bar tradition that is so widespread today. Prima, the Italian word for ‘first,’ or ‘premier,’ serves contemporary and seasonal northern Italian cuisine using fresh, locally sourced ingredients in a comfortable and enchanting setting. Prima’s warm and illuminated walls, tiled floors, fireplaces, cozy niche areas, and intimate dining rooms evoke places found in the Italian countryside. Prima is conveniently located from all points in the San Francisco Bay Area in the heart of quaint yet bustling downtown Walnut Creek.

Whenever I pass by there always seems to be a nice amount of people dining inside, and they have a wine store right next door. You can see their lunch menu here, and their dinner menu here. 34 years is a long time to be in business, is this anyone’s favorite Walnut Creek restaurant?

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Plaque of the Day

March 20, 2012 8:30 am

Spotted at a Starbucks in downtown Walnut Creek on N. Main St. and Duncan St. According to the Walnut Creek downtown historic sites page:

Walnut Creek’s first financial institution, the San Ramon Valley Bank, was built in 1908 at the southeast corner of Main and Duncan. The bank left the building after a few years, and the building saw many different uses as an office and retail store before being razed in 1998.

This is what the bank looked like in the beginning:

I can’t believe it was still here as late as 1998. That would have been cool to see.

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