www.palisadesnews.com
October 2025 September
What We Know About Palisades’ Data Shows Rebuilding Progress Upcoming in PostItalian Steakhouse Fire Palisades the property’s revitalization. The menu at indicate Spacca into The Pali Builds’ September 1 analysis. The numbers menu at Spacca Tutto will Processing times for new building Tutto will feature steak program, permits a robust averaged around seafood, 63-77 a surge in permitting feature days in summer months, up 31 seasonal vegetable dishes andfrom lighteraactivity, robustparticularly steak days in March, suggesting growing fare offerings, alongside a bar menu administrative demands as applications program and approximately 250 Italian and in recent months increase. Pali Builds, founded by locals A new data diningfrom destination is cominga New Pali Builds, to Palisades Village: Spacca Tutto, community platform tracking recovery an Italian-American steakhouse set to from the January wildfires, shows open in August 2026. The venture is the significant rebuilding momentum in product of a collaboration between chef Pacific Palisades, with 179 new home Nancy Silverton, developer Rick Caruso permits approved since the fires and 160 and River Jetty Restaurant Group. lots sold generating nearly $478 million Silverton, a four-time James Beard in sales, highlighting a robust but uneven Award winner, will bring her Italian housing market. culinary expertise together with classic The numbers indicate a surge in American steakhouse fare in the new permitting activity, particularly in recent venue, which will be located in the heart months. of Palisades Village. Caruso said the From January to August 2025, Los concept reflects “resilience, creativity Angeles approved 179 new homes in and courage”—qualities he sees in the the 90272 zip code, with approvals local community following the January accelerating over time: only two in March 2025 wildfires that damaged the site. The but jumping to 76 in August, according project also represents a significant step
domestic wines. The design led by to fill gaps in official data, is continues tracking the LA Officea décor firmuntil AvroKO andMayor’s will include provides comprehensive figures. roughly 3,000-square-foot interior and a Home sales data through August 1 1,500-square-foot patio. reveals 160 lots sold since the January 7 River Jetty $477.7 co-founder Joseph “McG” fires, totaling million. The market shows stark as disparities Nichol described the venue part of by area: Area 8 led with 11 sales at an a broader effort to bring hospitality, average $10.6 million and median $10.2 jobs and vibrancy back $116.4 to the Palisades million, contributing million community. in volume, while Area 2 had 16 sales averaging $1.7 million. 5 saw the the Early media reportsArea suggest most activity with 48 sales averaging restaurant will anchor the forthcoming $2.1 million. Buyer composition from reopening of included Palisades85 Village, January to July individualsa property that was temporarily (53%), 64 entities (40%),closed and and 11 unknown (7%), pointing to substantial undergoing repairs after the fire in early institutional investment in the recovery. 2025.
Some decried the bill, A former Palisades now on Gov. Gavin resident, the man Newsom’s desk, for faces several charges ignoring traffic, including one of infrastructure, destruction of and environmental, property by means public safety concerns
along with city leaders and officials, Federalagainst prosecutors rallied the bill. allege “SB 79 that is Rinderknecht deliberately started a laws,” small 100 times worse than existing blaze, as Residents the Lachman Fire, in Pacific known Palisades Association Temescal shortly after President Canyon Jessica Rogers said, midnight warning on New in Year’s Day. Though firefighters of risks wildfire-prone areas like the initially believed the fire was contained, Palisades, citing inadequate evacuation officials it smoldered underground routes andsay infrastructure strain. before reignitingthe nearly later City and In August, Losa week Angeles spreading across Palisadesto and Council voted 8–5Pacific in opposition SB Malibu the Councilwoman Palisades Fire. Traci Park 79, ledasby Rinderknecht was arrested on Oct. 7 and Councilmember John Lee. Park, at his sister’s in Orlando, Florida, whose districthome includes the Palisades, and extradited to Los Angeles. judge called it a “Sacramento attemptThe to hijack ordered him to remain in custody pending local planning,” silencing residents. The trial, scheduled for Community Dec. 16, according to Pacific Palisades Council also urged Newsom to veto the bill, reports. referencing his emergency order limiting Investigators said Rinderknecht, who denseworking housingasinan fireUber zones. was driver the night opens the the floodgates of “This the first bill fire, was seen near ignition for and developers, displacement, and site made multiple 911 calls to report gentrification, regard our it. His cellphonewith datanoplaced himfor within neighborhoods,” Park prosecutors said in a Sept. 30 feet of the scene, said. 13 statement, noting thatsearch Los Angeles Court documents also cite histories has thousands of images housingonunits under and AI-generated his phone construction. 79, she depicting citiesSB engulfed in argued, flames. would undermine years described of planning to place Federal officials the Palisades housing transit corridors. blaze as along a “holdover fire” — a type of Days after underground its passage, Park smoldering fire introduced that can a motiondays directing city departments reignite later when winds and to conduct a comprehensive 90-day conditions shift.
Lawmakers Pass SB 79, Sparking Outcry Accused Pali Fire Arsonist Pleads Not Guilty Over Control LossFace Up to 45 Years in LA Local Courtroom, Could
of fire and another By Zach Armstrong of arson affecting California lawmakers approved property Senate Bill 79, a controversial housing
mandate some have decried for ignoring A 29-year-old man accused of igniting infrastructure and public safety concerns, the Palisades Fire — one of the deadliest in mid-September, prompting fierce and most destructive wildfires in California opposition Los not Angeles history — from pleaded guiltyleaders. Thursday The legislation, authored Sen. Scott to federal arson charges in aby Los Angeles Wiener (D–San Francisco), allows for courtroom. more multi-family housing development Jonathan Rinderknecht, a former near transit stops, Palisades resident, permitting is charged taller with and one denser buildings closer to major count of destruction of property by transit means hubsfire, andone allowing agencies to of count transit of arson affecting build on used theirinown land.commerce, The bill also property interstate and requires housing one countaofshare timberofsetaffordable afire, according to units in new projects. the U.S. Attorney’s Office. If convicted, he In late August, a crowd of Palisadians, faces up to 45 years in federal prison.
assessment of SB 79. The motion instructs the Departments of City Planning, Transportation, and Housing, along with the City Attorney, to analyze the bill’s effects. The report will include
maps of areas within a quarter-mile and half-mile of transit stops subject to SB 79, impacts on rent-stabilized housing, historic districts, coastal zones, and high-risk fire and tsunami areas.