The Metropole project, which will be developed by Urban Developments, includes 181 upscale condominiums and 21,000-sf of commercial space at 1655 N. California Blvd. Residents are criticizing the project for its lack of affordable housing, which is scarce in Walnut Creek.

Urban Developments argued that affordable housing would make the project financially unrealistic. While council members expressed disappointment that no affordable housing was included in the plans, they approved the project anyway, after the developer promised to give the city $1.3 million toward future affordable housing projects.

According to city officials, the funds will be used to help a nonprofit developer build an affordable housing project in the downtown area, which would bring more inexpensive units than the Metropole project would have provided.