🔑 Key Highlights
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Collaboration launched between LA County, Foothill Catalog Foundation & Habitat for Humanity.
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Offers pre-approved home designs to speed rebuilding in Altadena.
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26 families, including Wood family (lost home in January), signed up.
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Goal: rebuild in original locations while maintaining Altadena’s unique architectural heritage.
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Approval process faster; less red tape, more community-led rebuilding.
A new initiative is helping fire-stricken families in Altadena rebuild their homes more quickly and authentically. After the devastating Eaton Fire in January, LA County joined forces with the Foothill Catalog Foundation and San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity to offer pre-approved home blueprints designed to match Altadena’s architectural character.
Homeowners like Kenneth and Carol Wood Sr., who lost their home in the blaze, now have hope. “What has happened to me since the fire, I never dreamed could happen,” Kenneth shared. “But what’s happening to me now, I never dreamed could happen either. That there’d be someone that would help us get back into a home.”
Supervisor Kathryn Barger explained the benefits: offering ready-to-go designs removes lengthy approvals and ensures new construction fits the existing neighborhood aesthetic. “Many in this community’s greatest fear was that it would be built back and look like development and not look like the Altadena,” she said. abc7.com
So far, 26 families, including the Woods, have committed to rebuilding on their original lots using these curated plans. The designs are tailored to preserve the visual and historical fabric of Altadena, avoiding generic or out-of-place modern builds.
This model draws from recovery strategies used after California’s destructive Tubbs Fire in 2017, where pre-approved designs and relaxed planning rules helped rebuild 80% of homes within three years. LA County is adopting similar tactics to accelerate a thoughtful, resilient rebuild in fire-affected communities.
