Construction in Walnut Creek
Since 2014, Walnut Creek has spent $250 million dollars on new renovations, including 230,000 square feet of new retail space, and 2,500 new parking spaces. Downtown Walnut Creek has changed drastically since construction began in March 2014. As Walnut Creek becomes more commercialized and rent for the retail space increases, organizations such as the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce are working to support smaller businesses.
“We as the chamber of commerce work on a membership-based business. Businesses come to us and join the chamber - to promote themselves and advertise and network,” said Linda Vesneski, the membership director at the Chamber of Commerce. “To support them, we offer networking opportunities at our monthly networking mixers.. Exposure on our website, through our business directory. They have opportunities to post calendar events to our community calendar. They can post promotion and coupons.”
There are more big city development plans to come. “Just off of North Main Street and Lawrence way, the city has an interest in selling about 2 and ¼ acres of land and we’re looking to sell it to a hotel developer,” said Ethan Bindernagel, Community Economic Development Senior Planner of Walnut Creek.
Junior Hana Rad expresses the inconveniences about living in Walnut Creek in this day and age. “It’s getting more crowded on the weekend and it’s hard to just walk around or shop,” said Rad. “People are coming in from all over the bay area. Parking is expensive for everyone.”
Senior Paige Hera is concerned for private businesses. “For smaller stores, it going to suck,” said Hera. “All the bigger stores are obviously more known, so people are going to be drawn to those commercialized stores. The small stores are not getting nearly as much money because they won’t be competition. I’m also very annoyed that Barnes and Nobles was taken over by Anthropology. I didn’t think we need another clothing store, but we need a book store.”
However, Bindernagel has an explanation for this. “The downtown commercial core is experiencing, basically, success. There are still unique pockets downtown and unique pockets in Walnut Creek, where you’ll find a certain type, given the building type, given the street signs. Not every business is located along Mt. Diablo or along California, some are located along Locust Street. Very different field in those locations,” said Bindernagel. “You would never see for example, a Neiman Marcus on Locust Street, but you would see a Neiman Marcus on Mt. Diablo or Main. In fact, you do. So there are different sections of town that are more receptive to those independent type businesses. It’s a good mix of commercial and private, and I think that’s what you see when you walk around downtown,” said Bindernagel.
“One of the nice benefits of this commercialization is that we have more stores now,” said sophomore Anastasia Seaway. Like her, many others also think this expansion in Broadway Plaza is good for the city as whole.
“This brings more people into the city; more people means more money circling throughout the Walnut Creek economy. More shops will come to Walnut Creek so more choices for residents and more money invested into parking for residents,” said Senior Ryan McIntire. “This commercialization process is beneficial to the city and I hope to see where this takes us.”
