Rebuilding Homes, Restoring Community
The destruction wrought by the Palisades Fire has left a deep scar on our community—physically, emotionally, and economically. But the opportunity ahead is not just to rebuild, but to rebuild with intention. The Housing RSF outlines how Pacific Palisades can recover in a way that honors neighborhood character, supports residents of all income levels, and accelerates reconstruction in a fair and cost-effective way.
Partnership Building: A Smarter Way to Rebuild Many property owners are considering whether to sell their fire-impacted lots. Rather than a quick sale to a speculator, a new model allows owners to partner with reputable builders, bringing their lot into a development partnership. Builders take on the construction process, and when the home is sold, both parties share in the proceeds. The result? Lot owners can earn more than a land-only sale, and homes are built to local standards by trusted teams.
Workforce Housing: A Crucial Piece of the Puzzle We cannot rebuild quickly if our skilled labor force is stuck in traffic two hours a day. That’s why we are proposing the creation of temporary worker housing within the Palisades. This not only allows for longer, more productive work days during the week, but also ensures security, supervision, and rapid timelines. These dwellings would be carefully located and removed once the recovery effort concludes.
Architectural Integrity Matters With many rebuilds happening at once, we must maintain the look and feel of Pacific Palisades. Through the PRC’s Architectural Integrity Committee, we aim to uphold existing CCRs (Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions) and offer pre-approved design templates that speed up permits while preserving our coastal character. This is not about stopping change—it’s about guiding it thoughtfully.
To minimize commuting times and expedite the rebuilding process, the plan proposes temporary workforce accommodations in underutilized or cleared areas, particularly where burn rates were highest and population density remains low.
- Worker Housing Zones: Temporary housing for workers will be established in vacant and usable parking lots, low-repopulation residential areas, and other available lots that can be dedicated to temporary worker staging. Provisions for hygiene, security, and sanitation will be included.
- Shuttle Operations: Daily shuttle service to construction sites will reduce congestion and ensure workforce reliability. We have already spoken with City and County leaders and confirmed that this can be provided. A Palisades Rebuilding Authority can contract with a shuttle service to offer transportation in locations and at times where it is necessary or beneficial to the recovery effort.
- On-Site Services: Food, rest areas, and restroom facilities can be provided at workforce hubs to support laborer well-being and productivity
