The scaffolding has come down, and anyone visiting the Rheem Valley Shopping Center recently has noticed the visible improvements to the buildings’ façades. Repairs have been made to rotting wood along with a different color scheme. White and golden-brown paint has replaced the chocolate brown and dark green exteriors. Large gold lettering identifies each business by name. Additionally, progress on Grocery Outlet has gone full speed ahead with locals anticipating the grand opening projected for early 2027.
During the June 24 Town Council meeting, Town Manager Scott Mitnick gave an Economic Development Update Report. “This community is clamoring for positive redevelopment. Not to have a whole bunch of density and make it look like Walnut Creek, or Palo Alto, or San Jose – that’s not in the cards – but to have a more vibrant and self-sustaining local economy that offers opportunities to people that live here in Lamorinda. Everybody pretty much wants that.”
The façade improvements came about because the Town made a request to property owners that buildings get “spruced up” to make the shopping center more “cheerful.” At a recent outside event, this reporter heard several residents make comments to the effect of, “When will the same improvements come to the Moraga Shopping Center?”…