In Altadena and the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of L.A., reconstruction has begun despite the fact that the soil on affected properties has not been tested for toxic substances.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s controversial decision to forgo soil testing in communities burned in the Eaton and Palisades wildfires sparked pushback Wednesday as California lawmakers questioned whether the practice will prevent residents from knowing if there are toxic substances on the land before rebuilding begins.

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When it comes to rebuilding Pacific Palisades, the idea of forming a builders alliance to streamline “reconstruction through cost-saving collaboration” was presented during a meeting that took place at American Legion Ronald Reagan – Palisades Post 283 and virtually via Zoom on Thursday evening, March 6.

The meeting was focused on a presentation titled “LA Fires Rebuilding and Recovery Strategy,” prepared by the LA Rebuilding Advisory Committee, which is a joint effort of the Urban Land Institute, the UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate and USC’s Lusk Center for Real Estate. It was hosted by Chief Recovery Officer for the city of Los Angeles Steve Soboroff, with Randy Johnson, Palisadian Taylor Mammen (CEO of RCLCO Fund Advisors and bishop of the Pacific Palisades Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and representatives from Brookfield Residential.

Soboroff noted of rebuilding efforts that “some people will be able to afford it,” while others will not, but he said that when decisions to rebuild or not are made, his goal is to be sure property owners have “all the options.”

The first step, the presenters explained, is having residential owners and renters fill out a questionnaire with their intentions when it comes to rebuilding in and returning to the Palisades.

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