LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA — A historic movie theater is being rebuilt, a seven-story housing development is underway, and a former bank building is preparing for a very different use–and is currently missing its front.
If you feel like downtown is dotted with construction sites, well…you’re not wrong! We’ve been following them through site visits, photos and conversations with the people involved.
Here are five projects changing the places where Lafayette residents live, eat, gather and catch the train.
1. The Park Theater is rising again
Few downtown projects carry as much local history as the restoration of the Park Theater.
The cinema opened in 1941 and closed in 2005. When we documented the renovation in April, demolition had exposed much of the old building’s structural frame.
Now, the rebuilding is becoming more visible. In a September 28 update, the Park Theater Trust reported that new structural steel was going up after months of foundation work. The group continued posting construction updates in October.
The plans call for two theaters, space for community activities and a rooftop terrace, giving the landmark a future beyond movie screenings alone.
2. Oak Hill is bringing 85 homes near BART
At 1001 Oak Hill Road, the scale of downtown’s housing changes is particularly clear.
Diamond Construction broke ground in June on Oak Hill, a seven-story development with 85 for-sale homes. The city’s project tracker lists it as under construction, with demolition and grading occurring during summer 2026.
As we reported at groundbreaking, the project includes 74 market-rate homes, 11 below-market-rate homes and approximately 2,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.
The location puts future residents within walking distance of BART and downtown businesses. Completion was targeted for summer 2028 at groundbreaking, so this is a longer-term transformation.
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3. Lafayette Point is reworking a prominent corner
The former Wells Fargo building at Moraga Road and Mount Diablo Boulevard is being adapted for multiple businesses.
The project, called Lafayette Point, includes plans for a restaurant space, expanded outdoor dining, new storefront windows and improvements to the building’s exterior and rear parking lot.
When we investigated the project in September, construction notices were posted and the parking lot appeared to be under construction.
Leasing materials identified F&M Bank as a future tenant. The restaurant’s identity and opening date remained unconfirmed in our reporting.
4. The BART connection is getting a substantial upgrade
One of downtown’s biggest improvements is about getting between places.
The Town Center Pathway and BART Bike Station project will improve the walking and cycling connection to the station’s south entrance, adding an accessible pathway, public plaza and secure parking for up to 82 bicycles.
Readers tell us the construction has had some issues, including challenges with lighting after dark.
We visited the construction site in August, documenting work on the connection between downtown and BART.
Work extended into the fall. An October report, citing the city’s construction update, described steel installation scheduled for the week of October 19.
Join our free 925 News newsletter to follow these projects as they move toward completion and opening day.
5. Craft and Fire is transforming a long-vacant space
This project is smaller than some of the other spots on our list, but its transformation has been extensive.
Behind Whole Foods at 3506 Mount Diablo Boulevard, Craft and Fire is turning a long-vacant space into a taproom and pizza restaurant.
During our exclusive October visit, owner Aaron Steward showed us a nearly finished interior with wood, copper, custom metalwork and a fireplace.
Steward said he was aiming for December 2026, with finishing touches, some kitchen equipment and opening approvals still outstanding. That remains a target rather than a confirmed opening date.
For anyone who has walked past the dark windows and wondered whether anything was happening inside, our visit provided a pretty clear answer.
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Downtown’s changes also include a fresh look for the shopping center at First Street, where we photographed the exterior makeover. For a look at a major project that has already reached its opening milestone, revisit our coverage of The Brant.
