The following excerpt appeared in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin on February 15, 2026. To read the full column (may require subscription), click here.

Tiny Montclair embraces urban-density housing near transit and mall – Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

A construction worker walks across newly laid asphalt at The Village at Montclair, a mixed-use project that puts 350 apartments on 6 acres. It’s the densest apartment complex yet in the small city, which has embraced New Urbanism. (Photo by David Allen, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

By David Allen

February 15, 2026

[excerpt]:

Leading the way to a denser, more urban future is an unlikely city: Montclair.

The community of 37,865 is all in on New Urbanism and transit-oriented development. Since 2013, more than 1,200 apartments and condominiums have gone up within a half-mile of the city’s transit station. Another 300 are under construction.

Planning began 20 years ago for how best to capitalize on the proposed extension of the Gold Line light rail from Pasadena to Montclair, the westernmost city in San Bernardino County.

“We were probably one of the first to do anything outside of L.A.,” reflects Mike Diaz, Montclair’s community development director. “It’s close to 1,500 units taking advantage of transit-oriented planning in anticipation of the Gold Line.”

Whether the A Line, as it’s now known, will get to Montclair is an open question.

To read the full column (may require subscription), click here.