www.palisadesnews.com
March 2026 September 2025
Mayor Bass, Nonprofits Pre-Approved Data Shows RebuildingUnveil Progress in PostHome Designs to Speed Palisades Rebuilding Fire Palisades uncertainty for wildfire survivors. Foothill Catalog to Pali Builds’ September 1 analysis. new collection, developed by the The numbers indicate The Processing times for new includes building Foothill Catalog Foundation, Foundation plans permits around 63-77 five initial averaged designs ranging from 976 to a surge in permitting days insquare summer up from 31 1,500 feet,months, all pre-approved by pair with Habitat activity, particularly the dayscityin and March, growing tailoredsuggesting to meet Very High administrative demands as requirements applications Fire Hazard Severity Zone for Humanity in recent months increase. Pali Builds, founded locals under California Building CodebyChapter to fill gaps in official data, continues pledge to build 7A. New data from Pali Builds, a tracking until the LA ignition-resistant Mayor’s Office The plans incorporate community platform tracking recovery provides comprehensive figures. 75 homes for features such as non-combustible from the January wildfires, shows Home materials, sales data through August 1 exterior ember-resistant vents, significant rebuilding momentum in reveals 160 lots sold since the January 7 survivors. Class A fire-rated roofing, and protected Pacific Palisades, with 179 new home Mayorapproved Karen Bass permits sinceand the leaders fires andfrom 160 two nonprofit organizations announced lots sold generating nearly $478 million ainnew sethighlighting of pre-approved home sales, a robust but designs uneven Tuesday aimed at helping Pacific housing market. Palisades residentsindicate rebuild afaster The numbers surgeafter in permitting activity, particularly the devastating Palisades Fire. in recent months. The initiative expands on a Standard From January to Bass August 2025, Los Plan Pilot Program launched last Angeles approved 179 new homes in summer through Executive Directive the which 90272 provides zip code, with approvals 13, a library of codeaccelerating over time: only two in March compliant, single-family home plans but reduce jumping to 76 in August, according to permitting delays, costs and
fires, totaling $477.7 windows, eaves andmillion. decks. Officials Thethemarket shows said designs also stark aim disparities to reflect by area: Area 8 ledcharacter with 11 sales at an the architectural of Pacific average $10.6 millioncoastal and median Palisades and nearby areas $10.2 while million, contributing $116.4 remaining cost-efficient to build. million in The volume, while 2 had 16to sales plans areArea available all averaginghomeowners $1.7 million. Area 5the saw the affected through city’s most activity sales averaging Standard Plan with Pilot48Program and the $2.1 million. Buyer composition from Foothill Catalog Foundation website at January to July included foothillcatalog.org. Habitat85 forindividuals Humanity (53%), 64 entities and 11 applications can be(40%), submitted at unknown (7%), pointingortobysubstantial application.habitatla.org emailing institutional investment in the recovery. disasterrelief@habitatla.org.
Lawmakers Pass Gains SB 79, Sparking as Outcry Palisades Rebuild Momentum Permits Over Land LocalSales Control Loss Rise, Increase along three with city and officials, and aleaders half months, faster Some tracking decried the bill, about Data ralliedmany against the bill. 79 is than expected in the“SB aftermath 100the times worseHowever, than existing now on that Gov.about Gavin of disaster. delayslaws,” tied shows Pacific Palisades Residents Association to insurance claims — rather than Newsom’s desk, for President Jessica Rogers said, warning government approvals — are slowing the 683 lots are now of risks in wildfire-prone areas like the pace of rebuilding, Marguleas said. ignoringintraffic, citing inadequate active, escrow or Palisades, “The surprising part is evacuation permitting routesthe andissue,” infrastructure strain. isn’t Marguleas said. “We’re infrastructure, sold — representing seeing In August, the inLos Angeles approvals about three City and voted 8–5 opposition to SB environmental, and aCouncil half months. Thein real slowdown is nearly half of the 79, led by Councilwoman Traci Park insurance.” public safety concerns andAt Councilmember John activity Lee. Park, the same time, land has expected inventory accelerated. whose district includes the475 Palisades, Approximately burned calledhave it a “Sacramento to hijack By Zach Armstrong lots been sold attempt since the fires, tied to the local planning,” silencing residents. The reflecting continued interest from both California lawmakers approved developers Pacific Palisades Communitylooking Council and homeowners to rebuilding process. Senate Bill 79, a controversial housing mandate some have decried for ignoring Rebuilding efforts in the Pacific infrastructure publicmomentum safety concerns, Palisades are and gaining more in mid-September, promptingwildfires fierce than a year after devastating oppositionthousands from Los Angeles destroyed of homes,leaders. with new The legislation, authored by Sen. Scott data showing increasing permit approvals Wiener (D–San Francisco), and strong demand for land. allows for more multi-family housingwere development About 5,900 homes lost in near fires. transit Since stops, permitting taller 650 and the then, roughly denser buildings to major transit homeowners havecloser received rebuilding hubs andwith allowing transit to permits, approvals now agencies reaching as build as on100 their land. bill also many perown month, realThe estate broker requires Marguleas a share ofsaid affordable housing Anthony in an analysis of units market in new projects. local activity. In late August, a crowdhave of Palisadians, Permitting timelines averaged
also urged Newsom the bill, rebuild. Early buyers toareveto expected to referencing his emergency limiting include end-users seekingorder to construct dense housing in fire homes quickly, as zones. well as investors “This bill opens floodgates testing pricing for newtheconstruction, for developers, displacement, and Marguleas said. gentrification, no that regard for 683 our Data trackingwith shows about neighborhoods,” Park said inor asold Sept. lots are now active, in escrow — 13 statement,nearly noting that Angeles representing half of Los the expected has thousands units under inventory tied toofthehousing rebuilding process. construction. 79, she argued, supply would Despite the SB increase in listings, undermine years of planning remains tight. Newly available tolotsplace are housing along transit corridors. being absorbed as quickly as they come after its passage, Park introduced to Days market, suggesting demand is keeping a motion directing city departments pace with rising inventory. to Monthly conduct listing a comprehensive activity has 90-day grown
assessment of land SBsales 79. have Theremained motion steadily, while instructs the Departments of City strong, indicating a competitive market Planning, Transportation, and Housing, for buildable properties. along City Attorney, analyze Still,with newthe housing supply istoexpected the bill’s effects. The report will include to remain limited in the near term. Only
of areas within a quarter-mile amaps small number of rebuilt homes and are half-mile of transit stops subject to SB projected to be completed soon, meaning 79, impacts on rent-stabilized housing, buyers continue to compete for historic may districts, coastal zones, and high-risk fire and tsunami areas. scarce inventory.