Livin’ Large Near Downtown Walnut Creek
The adage, “Neighborhood, neighborhood, neighborhood,” is especially apt when it comes to downtown Walnut Creek, which has destination restaurants, live theater, killer shopping and more. Plus it’s beautiful, with lovely landscaping and open space. Reader Scott, who doesn’t live in Walnut Creek, commented that he and his family had trouble finding it, which is understandable since it’s a somewhat loosely defined mile-square area. Here’s some help with that, plus links to a couple guides and a list of homes for sale near downtown.
Downtown is bounded loosely by Interstate 680 on the west, Parkside Drive on the north, Civic Park and Civic Drive/Broadway on the east, and Newell Avenue on the south. For more info, check out this guide (or for an interactive map, try this link).
To get there from San Francisco or Oakland, take Interstate 580 to Highway 24 and, after going through the Caldecott Tunnel, take the Mt. Diablo Blvd. exit. Then turn left on Main Street.
If you decide you’d like to live here, there are a couple of (albeit small) condos for under $400,000 right smack in the downtown area listed on Redfin, plus some other interesting deals. (Photo of downtown Walnut Creek: West Coast TNDs.)
1315 Alma Avenue #337, Walnut Creek: 1 bedroom/1 bathroom, 681 sq ft, $379,000. This is part of a condo complex called the Montecito, and it is a short walk from Broadway Plaza. The building has a pleasant central courtyard, a concierge and a fitness center; this unit has wall-to-wall carpeting (which I personally dislike, but whatever), a deck (that’s more like it) and a washer-dryer.
1315 Alma Avenue #165, Walnut Creek: This is in the same condo complex, still under $400,000. 1 bedroom/1 bath, 681 sq ft., $389,000. Basically the same as the first one but with upgrades including stainless steel appliances, marble floors and countertops and a large patio overlooking the courtyard. There are seven more units in Montecito currently for sale on Redfin, ranging from the low $400,000s to the mid-$600,000s.
240 Sierra Drive, Walnut Creek: 3 bedrooms/1 bath, 1,272 sq ft., $650,000. This is a single-family detached residence, with a dishwasher and fireplace and within walking distance of downtown.
1670 San Miguel Drive, Walnut Creek: 2 bedrooms/2.5 baths, 1,596 sq ft. This is a condo within walking distance of Broadway Plaza. It’s an end unit with a fireplace, and the building has a pool and spa.
