Dan Dianda

Sometimes it takes something new to appreciate something that is older. All of the new large developments in the surrounding cities of Danville and San Ramon have done just that. Now, There is a revived appreciation and demand within the town of Blackhawk. What was considered outdated is now considered traditional, unique, and even quaint.

The Country Club Community of Blackhawk was built on the principles of true luxury living to meet any lifestyle, from comfortable condos to multi-acre park estates. Many of these homes were constructed as dream estates detailed down to wall coverings and even china patterns. Now these building styles are rare or incredibly expensive to duplicate or even mimic. Such features include parquets, moldings of plaster, unique stonework or clever brick pattens, terracotta chimney pipes and wooden paneled offices with marble floor inlays to name just a few of these characteristics.

Blackhawk is known for its unique trademark building styles that is discernible only to this community. Among them are all are a creative rendition of classical styles including the French Provincial, the English Tudor, the Mexican Hacienda, the Georgian plantation, and many more. Also included is a unique take on luxurious modern living.

Now is a better time than ever before to invest within the community. Prices are reasonable with a nice amount of inventory. There are various styles to choose from for the more discerning of buyers to match anyone's lifestyle. The community of Blackhawk is, also, simultaneously experiencing revitalization. Within the past couple years the LPGA has made the Country Club's Lakes course an annual stop on their circuit. Meanwhile Blackhawk plaza, a luxurious shopping center, is undergoing a complete renovation and expansion to meet the communities needs and demands. Neighboring Danville, also seeing a spur of growth as thier downtown is experiencing growth as well.

I foresee continual growth within our small community as outside buyers continue to come in from Southern California, back East, and Europe. As I posted before the communities median income outweighs that of most and is coveted by many retailers. Therefore, we may start seeing vendors and amenities that have been long needed for our small town. Yet, Blackhawk will remain the secluded get away for those who need comfort casual living and exclusion.

Blackhawk Plaza is in a full overhaul this summer, now showing great progress. The $40 million remodel and expansion will enhance and modernize the old luxury shopping center from when it opened its doors eighteen years ago.

Over a dozen unnamed stores are already signed to occupy spaces for the much anticipated grand re-opening. Some are said to be national brands that are not already found in the East Bay or even the Bay Area.

The old plaza was a luxury complex meant to draw shoppers from all around the Bay featuring its grand water park and bridges teaming with beautiful fish, floating ducks and swans. The focal point was the modern Smithsonian Institute Behring Automotive Museum for vehicle enthusiasts. The Plaza boasted 210,000 square feet of shopping space encompassing 45 acres. It grandeur impressed with it luxury and unique boutiques and chic Blackhawk grocery market that had baggers in tuxedos and was best known for gold plated shopping carts with mobile phones and its fashionable black and white tile floors and dim ambiance. Those days have long gone as buyer gawked yet did not buy forcing tenants to leave.

Now years Later Draeger's, a new casual chic grocery store has replaced Gottshalks as the new anchor store with already increased foot traffic and profits. The store draws buyers with its culinary store, cooking school, ready made foods made from scratch by gourmet chefs, a tasty bakery and cook book library with reading area. The food itself comes in a larger variety for every taste, and offers ingredients found nowhere else within its 43,000 square feet of shopping space.

Anthroplogie is set to open this summer in a new building expanding the shopping space with room for another tenant as well. Shelves are already being stalked as Blackhawk residents anticipate its opening. White House Black Market has already made its debut to the plaza for its sophisticated shoppers.

The shopping space and exterior itself will boast new amenities with comforts of outdoor fireplaces and seating areas and a playground and grassy areas for children to play and roam about. The water park that was the main attraction years ago is to be newly enhanced with sophisticated lighting that will be thus featured by fresh storefronts and dining patios.

Other stores have already taken up residence in the plaza including a very large and cozy Starbucks. This new location has a Blackhawk small town feeling to it with recognizable faces behind the counter and friends in business meetings or lounging within the multiple seating areas throughout the coffee shop.

The one thing that Blackhawk locals love besides their designer bags and shoes are there Sunglasses. Now Visual Expressions indulges these obsessions with a very personalized shopping experience for the eyeglass aficionado.

Catering to the smaller folk is a new G.R. Doodlebug opening its third local store, indulging children's love of toys, books and stickers. Hush Baby also serves the needs of mother and toddler with its extensive variety of specialty merchandise.

Residents could not be more excited about the promise of a new local shopping destination. Locals have had to travel as far as Stoneridge or Walnut Creek to find a decent shopping experience. The upgrade has been long overdue and very well deserved with a average local income to boast which rivals many of the most affluent neighborhoods. Such a demographic is a retailer's dream matched only by Palo Alto's Stanford and Beverly Hill's Rodeo Drive. The Goal for this luxury shopping destination is that it will be favored far beyond others and even draw buyers away from having to go as far as S.F.'s Union Square.

This is exactly what our community has been needing and for a long time. It should even refresh the housing market by bringing with it a revitalized interest in the community. Buyers favor areas such as Palo Alto and Beverly Hills because of not only the dream homes but the luxury shopping which creates an aura of prosperity which draws buyers. Blackhawk already has the community to boast but now will have a Shopping experience to boot!

I Wonder what stores are comming? Any news let me know.....