By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Pacific Palisades Community Council Chair Emeritus Maryam Zar presented at the board’s most recent meeting on the evening of Thursday, April 10, on a draft plan from a recovery coalition that has been formed following the January fire.
“It’s going to be this community that has to come together for a response,” Zar said to the 200-plus attendees about the rebuilding efforts.
At the time of the PPCC meeting, Palisades Recovery Coalition had met four times since its formation in February, with the fifth gathering planned for April 15. More than 100 people had attended the meetings, with a full roster available on its website.
Zar explained she got in touch with then-Chief Recovery Officer Steve Soboroff early on in the recovery process, asking what she could do that would be helpful to him. He suggested getting 30 people at a table who were interested in rebuilding the community—which grew to what it is today, with a focus on rebuilding logistics.
“In the wake of the recent devastation, the Palisades Recovery Coalition has mobilized to address the urgent need for comprehensive rebuilding and revitalization efforts,” read the coalition’s overview. “This Pacific Palisades Recovery and Rebuilding Logistics Plan outlines a strategic framework for operations management, materials coordination, workforce housing, legislative advocacy and communication infrastructure. By implementing these recommendations, the coalition aims to ensure a streamlined recovery, minimize disruptions and foster a resilient, sustainable future for the Pacific Palisades community.”
Zar touched on what building looked like in the Palisades before the fire—giving an example of a street the could have had four homes under construction at the same time and how it would have been “incredibly inconvenient” when it comes to things like getting emergency trucks up, and getting to and from work.
“If you compound that by the breadth of the loss, you’ll begin to get your head around what it might look like to try to rebuild 5,000 homes, particularly in the Palisades,” Zar described, “when there are only two or three ways in and out … and many of our streets are hillside and they’re narrow.”
The four-page draft plan—which is subject to and will incorporate additional feedback from the community as it progresses—addresses several facets of the rebuild effort, including street overlays, staging areas in the Palisades, housing for those working on rebuilds and a concrete plant.
“The reason I’m here is to bring this to you all—not just to the people on this call, but to the entire community,” Zar said. “In the end, anything that we do, anything that’s systemic and broad-based, is going to involve some inconvenience. In order to build back this town, there are going to be big decisions that will have to be made, and Palisadians will have to agree with those.”
Ideas for traffic and road management include making certain streets one way temporarily to aid in ingress and egress, especially as rebuild efforts ramp up after more lots are cleared.
Staging areas, for items like lumber, are being considered to prevent trucks from having to leave and return to the Palisades for materials, helping to keep the road clear. One idea that was presented was splitting the Palisades into north and south (or east and west) with two staging areas to further tamp down traffic.
The plan also pitches having the rebuilding workforce stay within the community—possibly leasing lots that will remain empty for longer periods of time. Another benefit, Zar explained, was that it could supplement income as people work through their rebuild. The plan could also be to create a dorm-style place in a city- or county-owned property.
Another facet of the plan was the possibility of a concrete plant, which Zar said, after speaking with people in the field, could save “tens of millions of dollars” in concrete delivery charges. A site for a potential plant had not been determined at the time of the meeting.
The plan also calls for a “Public Space Compound” on city-owned properties to provide “critical support services” for the workforce and residents, with a hub to include things like plan check and inspection stations, community resource center, material and landscape showroom, and a builder’s hall.
“The coalition emphasizes that rebuilding must incorporate long-term resilience against future disasters through modern, sustainable construction methods and proactive legislative measures,” read the draft plan. These “key initiatives” include fire-resistant construction, legislative advocacy, insurance coordination, and sustainability and research.
The plan would also rely on “clear and continuous communication” between “residents, contractors and city officials,” which is described as “vital to the success of recovery efforts.”
“Without a structured, methodical approach, the Palisades risks repeating the slow recovery process experienced by Malibu, where only 40% of homes were rebuilt within six years post-[Woolsey] fire,” the proposed plan read. “Residents are eager to begin the rebuilding process, with lot clearances already underway and construction teams mobilizing. A clearly articulated logistics plan will maintain momentum, mitigate obstacles and set the Palisades on a path toward a stronger, safer and more resilient future.”
Zar said that when sharing the in-progress plan with various government officials and representatives, including the office of Councilmember Traci Park, City of Los Angeles Department of Sanitation and Los Angeles County Public Works, she has received a “thumbs up.”
When asked if there are people involved with the coalition who are representing those with homes still standing while rebuild efforts are ongoing, Zar confirmed that her home is standing, with several members of the coalition with still-standing homes adding in the chat that they have been participating.
“In the end, it’s going to be Palisadians standing here, continuing to rebuild this town,” Zar said. “ … I suggest you all engage. Please read the plan, send your input and start to think about what this really is going to look like.”
For more information, or to join a future meeting of the coalition, visit palirecovery.org.
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