A Collaborative Vision

Millions for Local Schools

The plan for La Puerta will fund major modernization efforts across Claremont Unified School District’s elementary, middle and high schools. Millions of dollars will be generated for enhanced access, safety and technology for Claremont students of all ages.

Compatible with Neighbors

We listened to our neighbors. This collaborative La Puerta plan calls for fewer homes on larger lots to better match the low-density zoning and character of the surrounding community. The plan also maintains the existing boundaries and acreage of La Puerta Sports Park and Cahuilla Park.

Enhanced Quality of Life

We’re committed to doing our part and more. This collaborative plan will fund millions in park and roadway improvements, new public art and other public services that all Claremont families rely on – above and beyond what’s necessary to serve the new community.

Homes for Local Families

The La Puerta plan will provide a range of new homes that help to address the City’s housing goals and ensure that local families can grow and remain close. The new community will also generate more than $1 million to support affordable housing throughout Claremont, helping to provide homes attainable for working families, teachers, veterans and first responders.

The La Puerta plan will fund local school improvements such as:

Enhanced School Safety
Improved Accessibility
Equitable Facilities for All
Solar & Energy Efficiency

An Update on our Plans for La Puerta

April 5, 2024

We have an important update regarding our plans for the former La Puerta school site, and we wanted you to hear it from us first.

Trumark Homes has worked with the local community for the past four years to develop a collaborative vision for the future of La Puerta. Through dozens of meetings, workshops and conversations, we created a plan for 56 single-family homes on large lots to match the low-density character of the surrounding neighborhood. It’s a plan that protects local priorities and benefits the community, and as a result, it has received significant support from Claremont residents.

We’re proud of this collaborative plan and have been working closely with the City to bring the vision to reality. Yet, as the Claremont Courier reported, the City Council made a significant change to the development code last year that prohibits us from constructing the project as proposed. In short, they changed the rules after our application was submitted, and the 56-unit project we’d prefer to build is no longer feasible.

We have been in talks with the City to resolve this issue for several months but, unfortunately, we haven’t reached a viable solution. As a result, Trumark has re-submitted an application to the City for a revised plan that complies with the new code. In industry speak, we’re pursuing what’s known as a Builder’s Remedy.

Rest assured, this updated plan for La Puerta still maintains the existing boundaries of the school site and does not include any changes to La Puerta Sports Park. It still provides millions for infrastructure improvements and will fund major modernization efforts across Claremont Unified School District campuses. The only change is the addition of 35 affordable housing units (20 single-family homes and 15 multi-family homes) to help address our region’s housing needs. Single-family homes will remain along Forbes Avenue and the other perimeter edges of the project, and the plan will still receive the same rigorous environmental review and mitigation.

While this represents a slight departure from our progress together, we remain committed to developing a new community at La Puerta that fits with its surroundings and is a positive addition to North Claremont.

We look forward to sharing more information about the next steps as they become available. In the interim, please reach out with any comments or questions at info@lapuertaclaremont.com.

Benefits