By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

When her parents lost their home in the Palisades fire, Ashley Miller created Homes in Memoriam, a collective of artists creating art in the likeness of homes lost in the recent Los Angeles area fires, with the hope of providing families a small piece of what they have lost.

The project has spread throughout the communities, and Miller—along with her business partner Amy Beemer Lev—said she is hopeful it continues to grow as the word gets out.

“The idea is that we connect with artists who create pro bono portraits of the homes that were lost in the Palisades, Malibu and Altadena fires,” Miller said. “We’ve also started commissioning Palisades businesses that were lost. Amy and I are both Palisadians, so this project is near and dear to us.”

The two have already accumulated more than 150 home requests with a group of over 100 artist volunteers. Nearly all who have reached out about their home have been assigned an artist. As of last week, over 40 homes had been painted and $16,000 dollars has been raised.

The pair’s mission for the future is to do a gallery pop-up for the community and sell prints of their favorite Pacific Palisades staples. Cafe Vida has been painted while places like Amazing Music, Paliskates and Village Green are in the works.

“We’ve received an outpouring of support from artists wanting to help,” Miller added. “All homes are being added to a list where artists can sign up. Once a piece is finished, you receive a picture of it. It’ll then be sent to us to be framed, and from there we can either deliver it to you or hang on to it until you have a more permanent place to go.”

Miller moved to the Palisades with her family the summer before she started fourth grade.

“My parents decided to make the move to the Palisades because they’d heard the public schools in and around the area were amazing, and they wanted me and my sister to get the best public education possible,” she said.

Miller attended Marquez Charter Elementary, Paul Revere Charter Middle and Palisades Charter High schools. She got her first taste of independence walking to Ronny’s Market after school, spent Friday afternoons at the Village park and had dinner every Friday night at Casa Nostra.

“My parents continued to live up in the Summit and did unfortunately lose their home in the fires,” Miller said. “We lost everything, except for what Mom could fit in one reusable grocery bag. My family home was filled with so many fond memories: Christmas mornings in the living room, jam sessions between my dad and sister in the den, paintings and quilts made by my mom in the art room, and summer days spent with friends and family out by the pool.”

Beemer Lev also has fond memories of growing up in the Palisades.

“My mom grew up in the Alphabet Streets and went to Pali Elementary, Paul Revere and Pali High,” she recalled. “I always heard stories of her days in the Village hanging at Bay Theater and working her first job at Hacienda Galvan. Dad went to Loyola High and he often spent the night with his friends in the Palisades and say, ‘I’ll never forget the thrill I got coming through the McClure Tunnel revealing the beautiful ocean. One day I’ll live here.’

“In the 1990s, my parents bought an empty lot in the Highlands and built their dream home. My childhood was learning to ride a bike in the Huntington, summer swims at the Summit Club, AYSO, Fancy Feet, KI and basically living at Cafe Vida. I went to all the local schools—Marquez, Corpus Christi and took a bus to Marymount from the Highlands.”

Although her parents recently moved out of the Palisades, Beemer Lev always had a lifelong dream to buy back her childhood home.

“I was gutted to find my old address on a spreadsheet of homes destroyed in the fires,” she said. “One by one, everyone I knew lost their home and childhood memories. As so many Palisadians will relate, my best friends’ families were like my own family. They welcomed me with open arms with a seat at their dinner table, always making me feel at home. When the fires happened, I was gutted and at a loss for how to help my friends and community.”

Upon finding out on the news that the home she grew up in had burned down, Miller frantically threw together a logo and some posts, and launched the Homes in Memoriam Instagram.

At the same time, Beemer Lev was posting on Instagram seeking to commission art pieces to honor her friends’ homes. To her surprise, so many artists reached out willing to donate their time for free.

What started as a small endeavor for friends and family led Beemer Lev to Miller. Combining Beemer Lev’s background in operations and interior design with Miller’s background in psychology and graphic design, it proved to be a match. Thus, two people who were previously total strangers became a dream team.

“Our artist community exists on GroupMe, where artists ask for opinions from each other and share finished pieces,” Miller said. “Even though most of us have never met, it’s become the most warm, creative, supportive community we could possibly imagine.

“As for families, they typically find us either through Instagram or after seeing a piece created for a friend. Amy manages all the requests from families who’ve lost their homes, and she also reviews submissions from artists wanting to join the team. To say that Amy is the spreadsheet guru would be an understatement.”

Beemer Lev added: “Once the pieces are complete, Ashley connects with both the families and the artists to coordinate getting the artwork framed and to the families. Ashley’s apartment has become the equivalent of Santa’s workshop—filled with finished pieces, frames, packaging materials and various handwritten notecards to the families.”

Miller and Beemer Lev have begun to get all of the paperwork together to make Homes in Memoriam a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

“Keep the home requests coming,” Miller implored. “We’re all in the early stages of this grief process … so whether a home is requested now or a year from now, the goal is to get everyone a portrait to hold dear.”

Follow the project on Instagram: @homesinmemoriam. To request a house portrait, email homesinmemoriam@gmail.com with the family name, address of home lost, contact person’s name and phone, photos of the home, and any personal requests for the artist.

By THE EDLEN TEAM | Special to the Palisadian-Post

The recent wildfires have devastated our coastal community, destroying 70% of the area, including homes, schools and commercial buildings.

This catastrophe has significantly impacted property values, with current estimates indicating a steep decline. Understanding the factors influencing these valuations and the potential for future recovery is crucial for homeowners navigating this challenging period.

Before the fires it was not difficult for us to evaluate and establish a reasonably accurate range of value for specific properties because we knew the different neighborhoods, streets and homes so well for many decades. The nuances involved location, size of lot and home, view qualities, condition of the home, etc.

It is not clear this soon after the devastation how much the values have depreciated, and the factors involved in evaluation now must take into consideration the surrounding condition of properties near an intact home.

Immediate Impact on Property Values

In the aftermath of wildfires, property values typically experience a sharp decline. Homes that remain habitable may see reduced values due to the surrounding destruction and compromised infrastructure.

Empty lots—once home to residences—now face uncertain valuations influenced by cleanup timelines and rebuilding prospects. The perception of increased risk and the immediate visual impact of a charred landscape contribute to this depreciation.

Factors Contributing to Depressed Values

Several elements are currently suppressing property values:

Infrastructure Damage: The destruction of schools, commercial buildings and essential services diminishes the area’s appeal and functionality, leading to lower property valuations.

Environmental Degradation: The loss of vegetation and scenic beauty, which once enhanced property desirability, now detracts from it.

Insurance Challenges: Homeowners are grappling with increased insurance premiums or, in some cases, the inability to secure coverage. This financial strain can deter potential buyers, further depressing property values.

Historical Context and Recovery Prospects

Historically, property values in disaster-stricken areas have shown resilience over time. For instance, following the 2018 Camp fire in Paradise, California, property values initially plummeted but began to recover as rebuilding efforts progressed.

Similarly, areas affected by the Tubbs, Woolsey and other brushfires saw property values rebound within several years, especially in communities that rebuilt promptly and implemented improved building standards.

Anticipated Recovery

Given the projected timeline for debris removal and reconstruction, property values are expected to recover gradually. As the infrastructure is restored and new, resilient homes are built, the community’s appeal is definitely going to return, attracting new and old residents and investors alike.

However, as has been discussed in many public forums, the pace of recovery will depend on several factors:

Efficiency of Rebuilding Efforts: Streamlined permitting processes and support for homeowners will expedite reconstruction.

Community Engagement: Active participation from residents in rebuilding will foster a sense of unity and shared purpose, enhancing our area’s attractiveness.

Policy Support: Government initiatives, such as property tax relief and incentives for resilient construction, will alleviate financial burdens and encourage investment.

Future Outlook

While the current outlook may seem bleak to many, the resilience of communities in the face of natural disasters offers hope.

As rebuilding progresses, our property values will stabilize and eventually appreciate, particularly as efforts are made to enhance infrastructure, implement fire-resistant building practices and restore the natural landscape. Homeowners are encouraged to stay informed about rebuilding plans, engage with local authorities and consider the long-term benefits of investing in resilient construction.

Many people have contacted us to try to buy lots for $1 million or less, that would have been worth two to three times that if available before the fires. Some of our clients have received unsolicited and undervalue offers. We have also received dozens of calls and emails from people wanting to sell, but we urge them to take a deep breath and hold on until at least the debris removal process has been completed, if they can.

Your land value could theoretically double once the debris removal has been completed and the infrastructure is well underway. The Palisades has been one of the most desirable places to live in the United States for more than 70 years, and it will remain so as the recovery process continues into the future.

In conclusion, while wildfires have dealt a severe blow to property values in our community, historical precedents and proactive rebuilding strategies provide a roadmap for recovery. By focusing on resilient reconstruction and community cohesion, we can anticipate a gradual restoration of property values, paving the way for a revitalized and thriving community in the years to come.

The Edlen Team has been trusted advisors to the Palisades community since 1986 and continue to be of service from their new office at 1608 Montana Avenue in Santa Monica. You can contact them at 310-600-7422 or michael@theedlenteam.com.