Less than a year after the Palisades fire destroyed nearly 7,000 structures in Los Angeles, the first completed rebuilt home is being celebrated in Pacific Palisades.
In a statementmayor Karen Bass confirmed that the Los Angeles department of building and safety had issued the certificate on Friday, certifying that the home had passed inspection and was ready for occupancy.
“The Palisades community has been through an unimaginable year, and my heart breaks for every family that won’t be able to be home this holiday season. But today is an important moment of hope,” said Bass.
“With more and more projects nearing completion across Pacific Palisades, the City of Los Angeles remains committed to expediting every aspect of the rebuilding process, until every family is back home,” Bass added.
The Pacific Palisades home features four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms spread across nearly 4,000 sq ft. It replaces a 1,600 sq ft ranch-style home destroyed in January. Across the Palisades and Eaton fire zones, nearly 2,000 rebuilding permits have been issued, according to the LA Times.
Fire-resistant upgrades include closed eaves to prevent ember entry and pre-installed plumbing for an optional fire-defense system that sprays the home with water and retardant when flames approach.
A grand opening for the newly completed home is scheduled for 6 December, when the community will be invited to tour the property.
A two-bedroom, 630 sq ft accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in Altadena received its certificate of occupancy on Monday, according to Politico. The new ADU, commonly used as a guesthouse or rental, replaced a garage destroyed in the Eaton fire. The property’s main residence survived the blaze.
Reconstruction timelines differ across neighborhoods and projects. The city’s press release reports that roughly 340 projects are currently under construction in Pacific Palisades.
In total, the Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed 13,000 homes. More than 2,500 property owners in Los Angeles county and the city of Los Angeles have filed complete rebuilding applications, and roughly 1,100 permits have been approved, Politico reported.
