WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA — A prominent office property across from the Walnut Creek BART station could soon make way for hundreds of new homes for seniors, following a decisive vote by Walnut Creek residents in Tuesday’s election.
Measure U, which would rezone a 2.4-acre property at the northeast corner of North California Boulevard and Ygnacio Valley Road, received 71.11% support, according to Contra Costa County’s unofficial election-night final results.
The measure received 15,625 yes votes and 6,347 no votes, easily exceeding the simple majority required for approval. The results remain unofficial until certified. (Contra Costa County election results).
The vote clears a significant hurdle for a potential senior housing development that could bring as many as approximately 280 homes to the heart of Walnut Creek, directly across from BART.
But it does not mean construction is about to begin.
Sign up for our free 925 News newsletter for updates on this development and other major changes coming to Walnut Creek and the surrounding East Bay.
What Could Be Built Near BART?
The property is part of the Ygnacio Center office complex, a major commercial development near the intersection of North California Boulevard and Ygnacio Valley Road.
Currently, the portion of the complex targeted for redevelopment contains a two-story office annex and part of a five-story parking garage.
Measure U changes the property’s designation from office use to mixed-use residential and creates a new zoning district primarily intended for housing serving people age 55 and older.
Under the new zoning, the site could accommodate approximately 225 to 235 homes. California’s density bonus provisions could potentially increase that figure to about 282 units.
The development could also include as much as 60,000 square feet of commercial space, including restaurants, retail shops, medical offices, health clubs and other businesses compatible with senior housing.
However, the commercial component would be optional. A developer could instead pursue a residential-only project.
The measure does not directly change the property’s existing height limit of approximately six stories and 89 feet, although a future development could potentially qualify for exceptions under state housing law.
Why Voters Were Asked to Decide
The initiative was backed by Walnut Creek-based Hall Equities Group, a real estate company led by Mark Hall that acquired the property in June 2025.
Supporters pursued the citizen initiative process rather than relying entirely on the city’s traditional rezoning procedures.
They collected 7,248 petition signatures, of which 5,000 were determined valid, enough to qualify the measure for consideration.
The Walnut Creek City Council voted unanimously in July to place the proposal on the November ballot rather than adopting it directly.
Supporters argued that the development would help address demand for housing among older residents who want to remain close to downtown businesses, medical services and public transportation.
A city-commissioned analysis found that approximately 44% of households within two miles of the property include someone age 55 or older, while relatively few existing multifamily homes in the area are specifically reserved for seniors.
The project’s location directly across from Walnut Creek BART could also make it particularly attractive to residents hoping to rely less heavily on driving.
The initiative establishes the new development rules before a specific building proposal is reviewed. Under those rules, qualifying senior housing would be an allowed use, although a developer would still have to satisfy applicable permitting and review requirements.
What Happens Next?
Although Measure U appears headed for approval by a wide margin, several important questions remain unanswered.
Most significantly, no formal development application had been submitted to the city when the initiative went before voters.
That means the final number of homes, building design, commercial tenants and construction schedule have yet to be determined.
The measure also does not require Hall Equities to actually build the development.
Any future project would be subject to Walnut Creek’s affordable housing requirements, although developers could potentially satisfy those obligations through payments instead of providing affordable homes directly on the property.
The city previously estimated that an entirely market-rate development of 225 to 280 homes could require an affordable housing in-lieu payment of approximately $6.4 million to $7.7 million.
There are potential financial benefits for Walnut Creek as well.
A city-commissioned study estimated that redevelopment could generate approximately $191,000 to $469,000 in additional net annual revenue for the city, after accounting for increased municipal service costs.
The study also suggested that replacing offices with senior housing could reduce peak-hour vehicle trips, since residential travel tends to be spread more evenly throughout the day than traditional office commuting.
Those projections are estimates rather than guarantees, and the actual impacts would depend on the development ultimately proposed. (Bay Area Telegraph’s earlier reporting)
For now, Walnut Creek voters have made their preference clear: they support allowing senior housing at one of the city’s most prominent intersections.
Whether that ultimately translates into 280 new homes, a smaller project or something else will depend on what Hall Equities proposes next.
