It’s hard to believe that not long ago, Esperanza Place was just an empty, unused lot. Fortunately, Habitat for Humanity saw beyond the dirt and weeds to envision a rare opportunity to transform this Walnut Creek property at the foot of the BART train tracks. Ideally located near public transportation, a bustling network of pedestrian and cycling trails, as well as an array of local amenities, the site offered Habitat for Humanity, Kaiser, and the many other donors and supporters a chance to transform vacant land into one of the most innovative affordable housing communities ever built in California.
After a delay from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Esperanza Place project finally broke ground in September 2021. During the groundbreaking, Habitat for Humanity, the City of Walnut Creek, the Lesher Foundation, and Kaiser Permanente Diablo – one of Esperanza Place’s Development Sponsors – all joined together with other key supporters for the ceremonial occasion to celebrate the monumental construction ahead.
“Our partnership with Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley is a testament to our organizations’ shared goal of building healthier communities and our understanding of the important connection between housing and health,” shared Kaiser Permanente Diablo Area Physician-in-Chief, Ken Grullon, MD.
And now, exactly one year ago on August 20, 2022, Kaiser Permanente hosted their first Volunteer Build. Despite the heat, the volunteers didn’t hesitate to roll up their sleeves and don hard hats as they tied rebar for the foundations of the homes and diligently cleaned up the site. The Build Days continued throughout the fall as more team members chose to spend their Saturdays in service.
There’s no previous construction or homebuilding experience required to volunteer, but there’s always a way to make an impact. Our teams have lent a hand in a variety of tasks, including laying the foundation, framing, applying weatherproof house wrap, and even roofing.
These efforts didn’t go unnoticed! Local news shined a spotlight on the inspiring work at Esperanza Place, capturing our volunteers in action. Stories were featured on KRON 4, KPIX 5, Patch.com, and NBC Bay Area.
Intense rain and hail caused some minor setbacks in the winter months, but luckily, the skies were clear for a special Build Day in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. There was plenty of clean-up needed to get the site back in action after the storms. Along with the cleanup, volunteers laid roof shingles, prepared for drywall, and framed out the second floor of one of the buildings.
As spring and summer arrived, so did a renewed sense of momentum and enthusiasm at Esperanza Place. Slowly but surely, the construction site was transforming into a warm and welcoming community. Soon enough, volunteers were working on window installations, siding, and exterior painting. With windows and doors in place, solar panels on the rooftops, and the parking lot taking shape, it became easy to envision the future that awaits Esperanza Place homeowners – the birthday parties, game nights, home-cooked meals, and cozy cuddles on the couch they will soon enjoy in the comfort of their homes.
Construction is done in phases, with 23 homes included in Phase One and 19 homes in Phase Two. Thanks to the hard work of countless volunteers and future homeowners, residents of Phase One are expected to move into their new homes in early 2024.
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