In the aftermath of the devastating Eaton Fire that swept through Altadena in January, which destroyed over 9,400 structures across more than 14,000 acres, homeowners now have a glimmer of hope.
A new initiative announced recently is providing access to preapproved home designs through collaboration between the Foothill Catalog Foundation and the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity.
This initiative is aimed at streamlining the rebuilding process, which can often be both complex and tedious for homeowners.
Alex Athenson, the president and co-founder of the Foothill Catalog Foundation, emphasized that these preapproved plans are designed to save families both time and money in their rebuilding efforts.
“What the Foothill Catalog is looking to do is give homeowners a head start in this rebuilding process by providing preapproved, non-custom architectural solutions to allow them to rebuild in a way that’s feasible for them,” Athenson explained.
Crucially, all the plans prioritize fire resistance, addressing new state wildfire maps that designate certain areas of Altadena under stricter building codes.
Athenson underscored the importance of balancing resiliency with affordability.
“I think it’s important that resiliency and affordability are not mutually exclusive,” he noted, asserting that safety is a right everyone deserves in their homes and communities.
The character of Altadena is another vital consideration in the house plans.
Cynthia Sigler, co-founder of the Foothill Catalog Foundation, reflected on the community’s unique charm and the foundation’s commitment to helping it recover.
“It’s really such a special community, so when this all happened, we really felt like we needed to do whatever we could to help,” Sigler remarked.
The Foothill Catalog Foundation is spearheading the planning phase, while Habitat for Humanity will assist in the construction of these homes.
Bryan Wong, chief executive of the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, noted that rebuilding the community became a primary goal in the wake of the Eaton Fire.
“We hope with getting homes like this preapproved, basically, it’s going to cut the construction time down dramatically,” he said.
Wong estimated that under this initiative, the construction of homes should take no more than four months.
Some families, like that of Kenneth Wood Jr., who lost their home in the fire, have already started the rebuilding process using the available plans.
Wood described the initiative as a lifeline during a time of uncertainty.
“We were just kind of living in this suspended anxiety of what’s next.
No one’s seen anything like this. What’s the answer?” he said.
Highlighting the emotional connection to the designs, Wood shared that his parents chose the “Lewis” design—a three-bedroom bungalow inspired by a house that was lost in the fire.
“It was nice that they had some models that looked like houses in Altadena.
As soon as my parents saw the Lewis model, they jumped at that one because that looks like home,” Wood commented.
L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger praised the initiative as a community-driven success.
“It is not government doing it. We were a partner. We helped uplift and get them approved. First time ever doing that,” Barger stated.
She expressed her pride in the collaborative efforts that embody the spirit of cooperation in Altadena.
For property owners affected by the Eaton Fire, the next steps involve filling out a form available on SGV Habitat for Humanity’s website.
The application requires details about the household, property, and financial circumstances.
In addition to home rebuilding, Habitat for Humanity is also offering assistance for both major and minor home repairs.
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