If you build it, they will come. Following years of little or no growth in the city, a number of new residential developments in Claremont are near completion.

More than 125 new homes have been added to the city’s hardscape this past year, with more proposed projects—both residential and commercial—expected to break ground in 2015.

North Claremont most active

Phase One of D.R. Horton’s Serrano, at the corner of Base Line Road and Mountain Avenue, is near completion. With only 14 single-family detached homes remaining—including three unsold, three models and eight not yet released by the builder—homes within the 53-unit community are in demand. Although plans exist to adjoin a second phase to the Phase One property, the developer has not yet received final approval from the city and has put Phase Two on hold.

Taylor Morrison’s Citrus Glen, at the corner of Base Line Road and Padua Avenue, remains under construction and is approximately 70 percent complete. Only 12 townhomes remain available in this 54-unit community and with homes starting in the low to mid-$400,000s, they are expected to sell-out soon.

Additional projects by Taylor Morrison, one located at the former Montessori property at 560 Base Line Road and another at 618 Base Line Road, are presently on hold. Calls placed to the builder inquiring about the cause of delay have not been returned.

Grading has begun on the future site of Meadow Park, a brand-new 95-unit attached community by William Lyon Homes. Located on Base Line Road and Towne Avenue, the new neighborhood will consist of eight townhome and motor court designs as well as a recreation area with lap pool, barbecues and cabanas—something not yet offered in Claremont’s newest residential developments. An interest list is currently forming for this development.

Two surplus properties owned by the Claremont Unified School District (CUSD) remain available, with at least one showing promise of development. National builder D.R. Horton has expressed interest in the former District Service site located at 700 West Base Line Road. With demolition of existing structures on the property currently underway, the sale should be near completion.

“We’re working on it right now,” said CUSD Assistant Superintendent Lisa Shoemaker. “No closing date has been set.”

The possible sale of the former La Puerta school site located at 2475 N. Forbes Avenue also showed promise in recent months, but a due diligence agreement between CUSD and Brandywine Homes never came to fruition.

“The amount they agreed to pay was contingent on the feasibility of the project they wanted to do on the property,” explained Ms. Shoemaker. “Unfortunately, it was determined the project would not be feasible. We don’t have any immediate plans for that property.”

Hotels eye south Claremont development

North Claremont isn’t the only part of town seeing a surge in development. The southern portion of the city welcomed a new residential community as well as the recent rebranding of several hotel properties in the area.

Ivy Walk by Olson Homes, located on Indian Hill Boulevard and Vista Drive, is approximately 90 percent complete. All but one of the 19 detached single-family homes in this community have been sold. If you’re in the market, the remaining 3-bedroom plus loft and 2.5 baths home features 1,687 square feet of living space. Priced to sell at $542,220, the new home will be ready for move-in next month.

Big things are coming for Hotel Claremont, Howard Johnson and Claremont Lodge sites. According to the city’s Public Information Officer Bevin Handel, the Planning Division is currently working in cooperation with the owner of three separate hotels located on both the north and south sides of the 10 Freeway.

Hotel Claremont, whose name was recently replaced with Motel 6, will include renovations to the rooms throughout the motel to coincide with the rebranding of this chain.

In addition, a new Marriot Springhill Suites has been proposed to be located south of the recently rebranded Motel 6, and will likely include a pool and parking area with shared vehicular access off of Indian Hill Boulevard. The plans are currently in the preliminary phase of development.

“This hotel will require a Conditional Use Permit from the city, and the building will be reviewed by the city’s Architectural Commission,” explained Ms. Handel. “Community input will be a vital portion of this process as this hotel is adjacent to single-family residential homes to the east and south. It is anticipated that a neighborhood meeting will be held in the coming months.”

The Howard Johnson hotel brand will be replaced with Knights Inn.

Other projects of interest

Additional proposed projects include properties along Foothill Boulevard. A project approved in 2008 for the former Griswold’s property, located on the northwest corner of Indian Hill and Foothill, is being revised.

“The 95 townhomes on either side of Colby Circle will remain part of the project,” explains the city’s Director of Community Development Brian Desatnik. “However, the conversion of the old hotel wing is being changed to a new 35-unit townhome building, bringing the project to a total of 130 units.”

Claremont Star LP, the owner of the property, is currently processing applications on these changes through the city. A timeline on construction has not yet been established.

The Claremont Commons, located on the northwest corner of Monte Vista and Foothill, is also on the city’s to-do list.

“The city is discussing this proposed project with the city of Upland as it is partly in Claremont and partly in Upland,” says Mr. Desatnik. “A formal application has not been submitted by the developer.”

Several proposed projects around the city have stalled altogether.

Brandywine Homes had shown interest in two proposed residential projects, one on Auto Center Drive and another at 735 S. Mills Avenue (City Blessings Church). These projects are no longer moving forward. Calls to the builder seeking comment were not returned.

Also, a 13-unit townhome project at 365 W. San Jose Street approved by the city in 2007 remains in limbo. The current property owner has listed the .71-acre lot with accompanying project for sale at $1,680,000.

—Angela Bailey

news@claremont-courier.com