Living in Walnut Creek
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Living in Walnut Creek
Sept 2007
It's been 15 years since I have been at Cal, and now I'm returning to the East Bay.
We will be relocating from Venice, CA to somewhere East of the Tunnel in November. I
will be moving with my husband and 14-month-old twins. Since I will be working
full-time in Walnut Creek, we will likely live near there. My husband will be working
in downtown San Francisco, so we would need to live near a BART station. We are trying
to figure out which neighborhoods would be best for 2 little children. Any
recommendations for family-friendly neighborhoods with good schools? I have heard that
part of Walnut Creek uses the Lafayette school district. Does anyone know what
neighborhoods/boundaries those would be? I have also heard it
gets quite warm in Walnut Creek in the summertime... Is it a lot cooler closer to the
tunnel (Orinda, Moraga)?
I will also need to find a nanny for my twins. Does anyone know the best way to
advertise/find a nanny in the area? Is there an agency someone can recommend? What is
the going rate for nannies in the area?
I can only answer the climate part of your question- I lived in WC 2 years
and worked in Orinda. I would say while it is not hugely cooler in
Lamorinda (as it would be west of the tunnel) I could notice a subtle
difference in both temp. and air quality. WC air felt like a smoggier heat
whereas there was a subtle freshness in Orinda perhaps from berkeley's fog
misting over the hills? My experience was each town east would feel a bit
hotter, Orinda the least (but still hot!)then Moraga, Lafayette, WC and
worse in Concord. That aside WC has many great family friendly things to
do, plus Whole Foods and plenty of shopping. My mom and her friends in
Moraga would rather live in either WC or west of the caldecott beause they
always drive there for Everything, (except they don't want the longer Bart
ride from WC vs. Orinda Bart.)
anon
Wow -- lots of questions in this original post, but yes, parts of Walnut
Creek do use Lafayette schools. You would want to look in the Boulevard
Way/Olympic Blvd./Pleasant Hill Rd. area in a region often referred to as
''Saranap''. There is also the highly rated Walnut Creek School District,
which is quite small and a little less clear to me -- I do know that the
area in off of Cherry Lane (runs between Treat and Ygnacio) is included in
this area and uses Las Lomas High, Walnut Creek Intermediate, and one or
two elementary schools (Indian Vallley and ...?). Yes, Walnut Creek gets
hot in the summer and Orinda/Moraga tend to be cooler as they get some
morning fog. I am not a heat fan, but it really isn't horrible, I don't
think. You will pay significantly more for a house in Orinda -- not enough
to us for the temp. difference, but they have good schools as well. Walnut
Creek tends to have more traditional neighborhoods than Orinda as much of
Orinda is quite hilly. Moraga has traditional neighborhoods but it is much more difficult to get in and out
of and less convenient to BART than the other 2 cities. Hope this helps --
just kind of scratching the surface, but ... I have lived in the area for
35+ years and we are now in Pleasant Hill, but our children are in private
school, which is a trade off. Good luck!
trish
We've lived in Orinda since 2000, and I think it meets most of your
requirements: near BART, great for kids, very good schools. You mentioned
the heat in Walnut Creek, and yes, it's hot there -- my husband lived
there before we were married, and we had to run the air conditioner every
day during the summer. Orinda gets cooled off in the evenings from the
fog, but not so much that you can't play outside in the evenings. Moraga
is much hotter than Orinda, being further from the fog gaps (also more
conservative, if you're concerned about that).
Welcome back!
Nicole R.
April 2007
I live in Walnut Creek and would love to work closer to home (currently work in
Berkeley). I honestly don't know what I would want to do at this point, so I am more
interested in starting to research employers who are located in or near Walnut Creek.
Given that, do any of you work in/near WC? What do you do and whom do you work
for? Do you enjoy your place of business? Thanks!
I work in Walnut Creek at John Muir Medical Center. There are
quite a few places to work here. Check out the Contra Costa
Centre website for a list of places that are in the area. I
know Wells Fargo corporate is over here as well, as is ARF,
PMI, Bank of the West corporate, and much more.
As for as whether I enjoy it here? If you are working at Cal,
then John Muir's benefits will bring nothing but
disappointment. I worked at Cal and left to be a bit closer to
home and now regret leaving that UC benefit pkg behind.
Wish I worked where I live too.
June 2006
We may be moving to Walnut Creek this summer. My company moved
to San Ramon and we would like to be closer. We have heard that
schools are good in WC. One child will be in Middle School and
the other one in 1st grade. Can anyone recommend a realtor who
could help us find a rental house? If we can't find a house, are
there apartment complexes that are kid-friendly, possibly with
patios or small yards? Which neighborhoods should we focus on?
Jeanne
If your husband is going to work in San Ramon you may as well move to Alamo,
Danville, or San Ramon. The schools in Walnut Creek are good-Ok, but the San
Ramon Valley school district is excellent! If you do choose Walnut Creek, double
check what school district you would be in--there are 2 and both have different
issues
valley raised
Hi - my sister is a realtor in Walnut Creek, has been for many
years and really loves living and working in that area. We grew
up in the area, I moved to this side of the tunnel. Married a
native Oaklander :) Yes, Walnut Creek has some very good
schools, and some just ok ones. You do need to know where the
boundaries for them reach. My sister can help you out with all
your questions. Her name is Kim Morucci - 925-437-1650. Good
luck!
June 2006
I am looking for a restaurant in Walnut Creek with a private
room, patio or similar for a cocktail party of about 20 – 30
adults. I’m thinking no host bar with nice appetizers. Ideally
people could come and go, have a few drinks, a bit to eat...
Fresh air and music a big plus!
I live in the area and absolutely detest eating in dinner in
Walnut Creek. It's not the restaurants it's the parking. Try
Pleasant Hill, Lafayette or Alamo. In Lafayette I like
Postinos. In PH try Left Bank.
I would highly recommend Postinos, Mondellos Cucina Italiana
or Café Terzetto.
Doug
June 2006
Hi everyone:
I live in the East bay area (San Ramon, Danville area) but
would love to move to Berkeley. However, I find it terribly
expensive right now. (I am a single mom) So, I have been
thinking of Walnut Creek. I used to live in Boston and I loved
it!!! I am basically looking for a liberal place,
very 'culture' oriented, like Berkeley and with diversity... I
know many people are happy in the area where I live now...but
it certainly is NOT my place. Can you tell me anything about
Walnut Creek? Do you know of any other areas that might be
similar to Berkeley (urban, cultured, liberal....) that's
affordable?
Thanks a lot in advance.
Looking for my place in the world
I understand your situation and I was dead set on moving to
Berkeley myself... because of the culture, diversity, less
commercial. It reminded me of a little town with a San Francisco
feel but even more of a community backing. Yes, it does come at
a price too (whew! we found that out right away). Coming from
someone who lives in Berkeley, consider this, Albany is right
next door, so is emeryville, Oakland, and El Cerrito. I shop in
all 4 towns on a regular basis. So, consider checking out Albany
rent, or Oakland rent (assuming you are renting). Maybe you
could technically reside in one, but spend the majority of your
time (eating out, shopping, going to cultural events, attending
farmer's markets in Berkeley). That is sort of how my husband
and I made it work in Las Vegas. We previously lived in ''Vegas''
but technically our address was Henderson, a cute suburb with
cheaper, more available, and more convenient housing. We still
did everything we wanted to do in Las Vegas, as it was only a 5
to 10 minute drive. You never even knew when you were leaving
one and arriving in the other. Good Luck on finding a place that
fits, I know it is tough.
Courtney
Um, no. Have you taken a drive or bart ride out to Walnut Creek? It is nice in it's own
ways but is certainly not like Berkeley (much hotter, more suburban, more oriented
towards the upper class, less walkable) and not even that much more affordable.
If you don't mind moving out of the bay area, I think that other, smaller college
towns probably have a more Berkeley-ish feel on a smaller scale and
budget...Arcata, Chico, Davis.
good luck!
Rather than moving thru the tunnel if Berkeley is too expensive,
I strongly suggest you look in Albany and El Cerrito. Mostly
same feel as Berkeley, and Alb and El C are so close to
Berkeley you just live in all 3 cities as you carry out your
daily living. Takes me 10-12 min to get from north side campus
to far side of El Cerrito.
Excellent real estate agent who can find you what you want,
I recommend Grace Bishop, at Red Oak Realty at the top of
Solano. Lotsa experience and handles homes all over the area.
If Danville/San Ramon isn't your scene I don't think you'll
find what you're looking for in Walnut Creek. It is
significantly more suburban, for better and worse, than
Berkeley and other cities through the tunnel. I think you'd do
a lot better looking in and around Oakland. You didn't mention
if public school are an issue, but you can research that
depending on where you ultiamtely focus on. Oakland and
ElCerrito housing costs are ususally somewhat less than
Berkeley, but I don't think WC will save you much
in my humble opinion.
Walnut Creek may be a nice place, but it is NOT like Berkeley!
People move to Walnut Creek to GET AWAY from Berkeley/Oakland.
Spend a day at Broadway Plaza shopping center (or that general
area) and you will get the gist. For a more Berkeley-like
experience, you have to come to the East Bay. You can still
find (relatively) affordable places in Oakland, El Cerrito, and
Richmond.
Staying on this side of the hill
Hmm, as a native Berkeleyan, I wouldn't say that Walnut Creek has
much in common with Berkeley at all, but maybe it does in
comparison to other towns on the that side of the tunnel. At
least it does have an arts center. If you are looking for a
diverse, liberal, urban community that is affordable, I'd
encourage you to explore the neighborhoods of Oakland. Aside from
a few premium areas (such as Rockridge), home prices are
generally lower than Berkeley, and the city is incredibly diverse
and has a lot to offer (including easy access to Berkeley and
SF). After trying hard to break into the Berkeley market, we
finally found our first home just across the border in North
Oakland, and we're perfectly happy. Popular areas you might want
to check out include Grand Avenue and Lakeshore near Lake
Merritt, Park Blvd, Piedmont Ave (not the city of Piedmont--too
pricey), Montclair (on the spendy side), and the Temescal area
off Telegraph Ave. There's also a ton of new construction around
downtown and Jack London Square. Even if you don't find a place
to live you'll discover all sorts of wonderful restaurants,
shops, and arts spaces. One caveat: you don't mention schools in
your post, or what age your child is. If you are considering
public schools, the line on Oakland schools is that if you work
at it you can find a good elementary school, and maybe a decent
middle school, but the pickings are sparse at the high school
level. One of the reasons Berkeley is more expensive is that
schools are considered better. Albany is even higher for the same
reason.
happy in Oakland
I don't want to come across as bashing those who live in Walnut
Creek, but it is just so dissimilar to Berkeley that I can't
even begin to list the points of dissimilarity. In my experience,
it seems that affluence and wearing the right thing, driving the
right car, etc. seem a lot more important in WC than they seem to
be in Berkeley.
If you want to get more of a Berkeley feel but a bit cheaper
than Berkeley, check out Oakland. Maybe Albany or El Cerrito.
I'm afraid you're going to have to come through the tunnel,
though.
anon
Uh, no.
I lived in WC for ten years. Yes, it can be cheaper but the
culture is entirely different! Berkeley = progressive attitudes.
Walnut Creek = pretty conservative, as well as pretty boring by
comparison culturally! WC has a lot of new money, with a strong
emphasis on having/being the best at everything. There's a lot
of ''keeping up with the Joneses''. I found myself out of place
there, although I did save money. There are some parts of WC
that are a little better, in terms of fewer plastic people, but
in general, if you love and want Berkeley, Walnut Creek is not
for you. It's also MUCH hotter in the summer, 10-15 deg.
anon
April 2006
I'm looking for recommendations on activities, places to go,
etc. for my 8-month old son and nanny in Walnut Creek. Our
nanny takes our son to different parks on a regular basis - but
I know that can get a bit boring sometimes. It would be nice
for them to meet up with other nannies and children around the
same age. Is there a certain ''nanny hangout'' in Walnut Creek?
Are there other activities besides going to the park? I know
there is a story time at the WC Library. It would be nice to
find out if there are other things to do in the area. Thanks!
Lindsay Wild Life Museum and Larky Park
You could sign your kid up for a Gymboree session in Lafayette or Walnut Creek area. It
is fantastic for your child. I took a child that I was taking care of to Gymboree and we
both loved it. Please keep in mind that your 8 month old would do well listening to
music, playing with toys and going for walks. Be careful to not over-
schedule your kid. They are always learning and need to take the time to learn.
Good luck!
April 2004
My husband, 14 month old son and I are planning to move to
Walnut Creek this summer. We currently rent an apartment in
Rockridge and enjoy it, however my husband works in Walnut
Creek and it would be more convenient and probably more
affordable for us. (We now pay $1675 for a 2 bdrm apt in
Rockridge.)
We are not very familiar with the area, just downtown WC, and
would appreciate any advice about what neighborhood to live in
or what school districts are preferable. We anticipate renting
for 2-3 more years and eventually buying in WC or perhaps
elsewhere. As a stay at home mom, I would greatly prefer being
in an area where I can walk to shopping and other amenities as
opposed to having to drive everywhere.... What about downtown
and the surrounding neighborhood? We noticed quite a few
apartments in the area. Or is it better to live in other parts
of the city?
Thanks in advance for your advice, it is greatly appreciated!
Susan H.
Just a word of caution when it comes closer to your kids
entering school: be sure the place you buy/rent is in the
Walnut Creek School District. Not all of Walnut Creek is and
the realtors may not be completely honest with you. Call the
school district office and give them the address and ask if
it's within the WCSD boundaries. Mt. Diablo Unified has some
great schools, but they're having more budget problems right
now then WCSD. Also it's a very large district and WCSD is very
small--if you get involved you will know superintendent and
school board members.
Also, while I don't have a specific location to recommend, I do
encourage you to find something within walking distance of
downtown--I miss that a lot.
deborah
Unfortunately, I don't think you will find much cheaper rents
in Walnut Creek. My recommendation about finding the right
neihborhood is that you probably want to rent in the area that
you think you will want to buy in later. You child will be
connected at school and it is nice to avoid changing schools if
possible. With this in mind, you might check into housing
prices in different neigborhoods. For example, I love our
neigborhood in Walnut Creek, the Saranap, which is zoned in
Lafayette schools. Yet, the housing prices around here have
gone wild. We never could have moved into this area if we had
not moved here a long time ago. Other areas of Walnut Creek are
not so pricey. Just a thought.
Opening disclaimer: I've never lived in Walnut Creek. However
I've had friends living in various neighborhoods there for the
past 15 years, and I've spent a ton of time out there.
There really is no bad part of Walnut Creek (except maybe a few
blocks adjacent to the freeway on the other side from the Walnut
Creek BART station). In the downtown area in the vicinity
around (behind) the Safeway are a whole bunch of apartment
complexes.
In terms of walking to shopping, outside of downtown, there are
a few centers (i.e. Safeway, etc) out Ygnacio Valley past
Heather Farms Park. Walnut Creek schools are good. But beware:
apparently not everyone in Walnut Creek is in the Walnut Creek
school district, and vice-versa. A friend's sister actually
lives in Concord and the kids go to Walnut Creek schools.
Maybe also consider Lafayette. Rentals are harder to find, but
good schools and possibly walkable to the downtown shopping.
And still great access to Walnut Creek.
anon
Echoing the Lafayette recommendation, it has much of the nice
feel of Walnut Creek, is in close proximitiy to WC, and has a
large area of rentals near the downtown. I imagine, though am
basing this on no real fact, that given the large number of for
rent signs I have seen, that it may be reasonable to find a
place in Lafayette in the Brook St. Area.
walking mamma
November 2006
Re: Family-friendly and more liberal Lamorinda 'hoods
If you're willing to look just a little farther out the Parkmead
area of Walnut Creek (where I live) is great, and commuting to SF
is actually easier here than Burton Valley or some of the other
outlying Lamorinda neighborhoods where you have to drive down to
BART. It's just a quick jump on the freeway here via the Pleasant
Hill Rd. exit and BART is very close by. When we were both
working in San Francisco we would go to the Lafayette BART station
-- maybe 5 minutes away -- and now my husband walks to the Walnut
Creek BART station everyday from our house, and we can walk to
school, the local swim club, and downtown Walnut Creek with ease
(and there's a Trader Joe's opening up at the corner of Newell and
California -- super easy walking distance) with the kids. My kids
and I started walking downtown when they were probably 4.
Parkmead Elementary is is great and there is a decent amount of
diversity here (still suburb-level, but decent) and it's a little
more laid-back and low-key that some of the more 'driven' aspects
of the Lamorida culture.
HTH
Erin
A year ago we moved from Kensington (where we had lived for
years) to the Saranap area of Walnut Creek (between Pleasant Hill
Road, Olympic, 24 and 680), and have had no regrets. We basically
'traded' our small Kensington home on a postage-size lot, for a
2600 square foot house on a 1/3 acre. Saranap is very
family-friendly. Kids ride around on bikes, tons of walkers, lots
of families, older homes on big lots (not a sterile housing
development), safe (not a short-cut to anyplace), and
helpful/friendly neighbors. Just about every
other house on our street has kids.
Also, this particular area of Saranap uses Lafayette schools
(Burton Valley for elementary). Basically, it is a better deal
than buying a Lafayette home, if that is the school district that
you want. On the other hand, we moved here to go to a private
school (The Meher School/White Pony). Which is a wonderful
private school/preschool run by Sufis. The school attracts a
diverse population (although nothing like S.F. or Berkeley), and
many of the staff/teachers live in the neighborhood, which helps
give a more 'Berkeley' feel to things. One more advantage to this
area is that it is 'secluded' but five minutes from downtown WC,
five minutes to both freeways, close to two BART stations, and
close to downtown Lafayette. A disadvantage is that the public
school is a good 15 to 20 minutes away. Although they do provide
bus service your kids won't be walking to school (at least for
elementary). Also, driving through the tunnel (which I do a
couple of days a week)can be a slow - friends that take BART to
S.F. say that the commute is fine.
berkomax
Feb 2003
Re: Should I move to the suburbs for the schools?
While I can't speak yet as to the quality of the public schools, I just wanted to put in a good word for Walnut Creek as a family-oriented community. We moved here from SF 7 years ago and I was not sure we were making the right decision, but we really grew to like Walnut Creek so much. It's so nice having Mt. Diablo right here. There are kids everywhere, lots of great parks here and near to here. From what I understand the public schools are better in Lafayette, but it's much more expensive to live in Lafayette (not that it's inexpensive in Walnut Creek, as I can attest now that we are looking to buy a bigger house!). We like downtown Walnut Creek - can't beat the shopping! And there are plenty of good, non-chain restaurants here as well. Our daughter will be attending a private elementary school in Lafayette, but will switch to public school when she hits middle school. We expect to remain in Walnut Creek (or Lamorinda) through her high school years.
LB
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