Walnut Creek housing development might replace miniature golf course

WALNUT CREEK — A housing development with more than 100 homes could replace a miniature golf course at the corner of South California Boulevard and Botelho Drive in downtown Walnut Creek, city planning files show.

The project, called Centre Place South, is slated to produce 112 homes within a five-story building at 1271 and 1275 South California Blvd., according to information posted by the city’s Planning Department.

Acting through its nonprofit arm Yellow Roof Foundation, Concord-based developer DeNova Homes owns the property.

Putter’s Miniature Golf Walnut Creek currently operates on the site.

“The existing commercial building will be demolished to make way for the proposed development,” Walnut Creek city officials stated in a post that summarized development plans.

The proposed housing project would consist of one- and two-bedroom units, the developer stated.

“The applicant is providing nine affordable units set aside for very low-income households,” city planning documents state.

For a household of four people, the area median income for Contra Costa County is $159,800, the state Housing and Community Development Department estimated in April. A “very low-income” level is $79,900 a year for a four-person household in Contra Costa County, according to the state agency.

DeNova Homes aims to pursue a streamlined Walnut Creek city review process for the project under the provisions of Senate Bill 330.

The developer also used the advantages offered by SB 330 to gain approval of two housing projects in Antioch recently. One project would produce 159 residences, and the other would create 129 units.