Beyond the Creek

Preview of N. Main/Mt. Diablo Restaurant Project

February 21, 2012 8:30 am

All drawings copyright Robert Becker

Now that B.H. Development has been awarded the N. Main/Mt. Diablo parking lot project in downtown Walnut Creek, you’re probably wondering what it’ll look like. Brian Hirahara, the owner of B.H. Development sent over some conceptual renderings of the future restaurant. This is the same developer who brought the restaurant Sasa to Walnut Creek, as well as The Corners project across the street which features Tiffany’s and the upscale tapas-style restaurant Va de Vi.

With this background in mind, it looks like the bar component to this new restaurant will be more similar to the bar at Va de Vi, in other words more upscale compared to other bars/lounges in the city that have been having problems lately.

Anyway, take a look at the outdoor dining concept in this next rendering. Note the butterfly windows which is a cool concept. The diners sitting outside are facing Commercial Lane, which I imagine will be renamed to something more appropriate in due time.

This is the view at the corner looking down Mt. Diablo Blvd. Note the benches, glad those will be going in as well.

See more drawings including an aerial view after the jump

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Sufism Reoriented Sanctuary Appeal – Feb. 21

February 20, 2012 8:30 am

Whether Sufism Reoriented will be able to build a new sanctuary in residential Saranap, an unincorporated part of Contra Costa County located between Walnut Creek and Lafayette, is coming down to the wire. As the Saranap Community Association reports:

The board of supervisors’ hearing on appeals of the county planning commission’s approval of the Sufism Reoriented sanctuary will be held Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lesher Center for the Arts in downtown Walnut Creek.

The county planning commission on Nov. 8 approved Sufism Reoriented’s application to build a sanctuary on Boulevard Way. The 4-2 vote came after three nights of public comments during which more than 200 people spoke. In addition to approving the church’s land use permit, the commission approved the environmental impact report on the project and the merging the seven parcels that make up the site.

Subsequent to the commission’s decision, eleven appeals were filed, including one by Sufism Reoriented.

While Sufism Reoriented wants to build the 66,000 square foot building, many in the Saranap community, like those part of Save Our Saranap, are against the project. The county Environmental Impact Report can be viewed here. Crazy in Suburbia has an informative post as to why it should not be approved.

Although the image of the spaceship-like aerial view of the sanctuary gets a lot of attention, here is a simulated view taken from the county environmental report. Doesn’t seem that out of the ordinary at street level. Other simulated views in the report have the sanctuary completely hidden from view. I had thought it would be more visible at street level. That being said I’m not sure I’d like it next to where I live. If this were built within a few blocks of where you live would you be ok with it or not?

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Judging Stores – Decors De France

February 17, 2012 11:30 am

Decors De France is a cute little shop selling imported French goods such as soaps, bags and little gifts, located in Broadway Plaza right next to Nordstrom. It use to be La Lavande. Has anyone shopped here? I’ve passed by a million times admiring the storefront which is always nicely decorated.

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Store Sign Sculpture of the Day

February 17, 2012 8:30 am

Spotted at the Atlas clothing store in downtown Walnut Creek.

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Fountain of the Day

February 16, 2012 4:30 pm

Spotted outside Lark Creek restaurant in downtown Walnut Creek.

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Judging Restaurant Lounges – 1515

February 16, 2012 11:30 am

1515 is a Dudum-owned restaurant and lounge located in downtown Walnut Creek at 1515 N. Main St. The drinks and dinner menu can be viewed here. I’ve seen an outdoor fireplace and TV which look cool. Any fans of this place?

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Neiman Marcus Architectural Accoutrement

February 16, 2012 8:30 am

Has anyone else noticed these metal flaps on the Neiman Marcus building in Walnut Creek? Is this a design flourish or will it serve an actual purpose?

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“In the Mood” Playing at Lesher Center Mar. 9

February 15, 2012 4:30 pm

In the Mood a 1940’s musical revue, will be playing at the Hofmann Theatre in the Lesher Center in downtown Walnut Creek on March 9 at 2pm and 7:30pm. It is being put on by Artbeat. Tickets are available for purchase now.

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N. Main/Mt. Diablo Parking Lot vs. Walnut Creek Automotive Lot

February 15, 2012 11:30 am

Behold the view of Commercial Lane facing Mt. Diablo Blvd. Straight ahead, across the street is the upscale restaurant Va de Vi. The building next to Va de Vi on the left also happens to be the office of Brian Hirahara, the owner of B.H. Development. (No wonder why they wanted this project!) To the left you can see La Fogata restraurant. On the right is a parking lot. Some people have been asking whether this parking lot on the right was included in the project that was awarded to B.H. Development last week. It was not.

B.H. development will only get the parking lot on the left, next to La Fogata. So how can B.H. Development refer to a, “Commercial lane paseo dining concept” without having access to both sides of Commercial Lane? I’m not sure, but I do know the site where the parking lot on the right is located, as well as Walnut Creek Automotive (right behind), is an entirely separate site owned by neither the city nor Patson Companies which is developing Anthropologie next to it. Rumor has it that the owner of this plot is of an advanced age and so if I had to take a guess, I would bet there will be a bidding war between B.H Development and Patson Companies over this sliver of land in one of the most valuable locations in all of Walnut Creek within the near future. I will post more about this in a separate post.