Montclair, a city in California’s Inland Empire, has evolved significantly since the late 20th century, primarily characterized by its suburban sprawl and a diverse Latino population. The opening of the Montclair Transit Center in 1993 marked a step towards commuter rail connectivity, although it primarily served drive-to commuters.
In December 2025, the Village at Montclair, a transit-oriented development (TOD), was introduced. While modest in scale, with 300 residential units situated on a couple of acres, it innovatively incorporated European-style urban spaces, addressing the previous lack of such environments in Montclair.
A video by Torti Gallas + Partners highlights the human impact of this redesign. Once a sun-baked parking lot, the area now features a green space, a paseo, and a central fountain. The design focuses on enhancing pedestrian experiences, setting it apart from the car-centric approach typical of Southern California. The principles of street proportions and block sizes were inspired by European cities, with the central paseo drawing influence from Venice’s Piazza San Marco.
For an in-depth look at this transformation, you can watch the video here.
