The Planning Commission took up an 8-story, 104-home project replacing a downtown parking lot at 1532 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Thursday, with 14 units reserved as affordable.
The hearing this brief flagged as pending last week happened Aug 17: Contra Costa County heard a pitch to subdivide 9.83 acres off North Gate Road into 19 lots, with waivers on setbacks and lot size. Decision pending.
Ear-piercing brand Rowan is taking the former Aveda space at Broadway Plaza, and Italian gelato chain Bacio di Latte is opening on Mt. Diablo Blvd. in September. Neither has a firm date.
🍴 Food & drink news
Gelateria Bacio di Latte coming to Downtown Walnut Creek in September
The Italian gelato chain is taking the former Vineyard Vines space at 1500 Mt. Diablo Blvd., with 22 flavors and a Bacio Affogato Bar pairing scoops with fresh-pulled espresso. No firm open date yet.
Massés Sports Bar still has no reopening date.
Its move to 1411 Locust St. was confirmed in April with a "within 90 days" target; that window lapsed in July with no update since.
🏙️ Local news that matters
It's a zoning change on one 2.4-acre parcel across from BART, not a citywide housing policy: 200+ units of senior housing and mixed-use retail. Rebuttal arguments were due Aug 24, the last procedural step before voters decide Nov 3.
The Planning Commission denied a conditional use permit for an unhosted short-term rental at 635 Mandarin Lane in May, citing noise complaints and the operator's compliance history. City staff recommended the council uphold that denial when the owner's appeal was heard Aug 18. The council's vote wasn't reported.
The conditional use permit hearing on the North Main St. proposal hasn't been scheduled since the Aug 19 Design Review Commission session, unchanged from last week.
📌 Mark your calendar
Smuin Contemporary Ballet: French Kiss
Fri–Sat Sept 18–19 @ Lesher Center. Season-opening program pairs Amy Seiwert's "French Kiss" with a world premiere and Michael Smuin's "Stabat Mater." Tickets $25–$100.
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Bob Costas at Lesher Center
Tue Sept 22, 7:30pm @ Hofmann Theatre. The longtime broadcaster's speaking engagement; tickets only through the Lesher box office or purchase online.
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