Walnut Creek, CA
Resources for Community Development
“St. Paul’s Commons is so special because when [residents move here], they go into a world where they can be comfortable and respected.” — Loella Haskew, mayor of Walnut Creek
Year Completed/Renovated: 2019
Number of Units: 45
Residents: Low-income, special needs
Project Cost: $23,000,000
Architect: Pyatok Architecture + Design
Financial Partners: City of Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa, Resources for Community Development, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Walnut Creek, California
St. Paul’s Commons and Trinity Center in Walnut Creek, CA, is a helpful solution to soaring rent and increased gentrification in Central Contra Costa County. The 44-unit building, which offers 30 studios and 14 one-bedroom apartments, along with a two-bedroom manager unit, sits on land leased by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the oldest church in Walnut Creek.
The mixed-use development houses the non-profit Trinity Center on the ground floor. Named the county’s nonprofit of the year in 2020, Trinity Center offers non-residential services – such as food, showers, laundry, and job resources assistance – to those in the area affected by homelessness. Above the Trinity Center are three stories of residential units. Roughly half of the building’s units are reserved for those with special needs or who have been affected by homelessness. Five units are intended for residents with mobility impairments, and another two for those with visual and/or auditory impairments. Twenty-three of the building’s units receive rental subsidies from the county.
St. Paul’s Commons, which was built to surpass energy efficiency standards and utilize post-consumer product, is located in the heart of Downtown Walnut Creek. The property is walking distance from schools, shopping, work opportunities, and public transportation including a BART station just 0.3 miles away.