Preapproved Designs Offer Altadena Fire Victims a Faster Path to Rebuild
A partnership between Foothill Catalog Foundation and Habitat for Humanity aims to ease construction delays
Homeowners in Altadena can now access a new set of tools to help speed up the rebuilding process after January's devastating Eaton Fire. Thanks to a partnership between the Foothill Catalog Foundation and the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, fire-impacted residents can select from preapproved home designs that reflect the area’s character and comply with updated wildfire building codes.
The initiative, announced Friday, could significantly reduce permitting timelines and overall costs for families trying to return home.
"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,"
Alex Athenson, the foundation's co-founder.
Designs are wildfire-resilient and modeled on real homes lost in the fire. One example is the "Lewis," a 3-bedroom bungalow inspired by a house on Lewis Avenue, chosen by the Wood family as their replacement home. "It looks like home," said Kenneth Wood Jr., who called the program a saving grace during months of uncertainty.
The county’s support for the initiative includes permitting assistance. Habitat for Humanity is offering construction support and additional repair services.
Altadena families can apply through the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity’s website. Alongside these architectural resources, residents will find help with major or minor repairs and other fire recovery services.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger praised the model as a community-led success. "It is not government doing it," she said. "It was community, and that’s why I love Altadena."