Upscale Restaurant Named After Historic Alphabet Streets Coming to Palisades Village
Data Shows Rebuilding Progress in PostFire Palisades
Planned offerings include rotisserie chicken, all-day classics, seasonal dishes and nostalgic desserts, paired with craft cocktails and a curated wine list.
The numbers indicate a surge in permitting activity, particularly in recent months
New data from Pali Builds, a community platform tracking recovery from the January wildfires, shows significant rebuilding momentum in Pacific Palisades, with 179 new home permits approved since the fires and 160 lots sold generating nearly $478 million in sales, highlighting a robust but uneven housing market.
By Carlos Reyes
Alphabet
Bar
to Pali Builds’ September 1 analysis.
as a local gathering spot. Hollingsworth’s menu reworks classic American grill fare with California produce and ingredients from the village farmers market.
Processing times for new building permits averaged around 63-77 days in summer months, up from 31 days in March, suggesting growing administrative demands as applications increase. Pali Builds, founded by locals to fill gaps in official data, continues tracking until the LA Mayor’s Office provides comprehensive figures.
Planned offerings include rotisserie chicken, all-day classics, seasonal dishes and nostalgic desserts, paired with craft cocktails and a curated wine list.
The interior, designed by Alexa NafisiMovaghar of Adean Studios, features green marble countertops, gold brass accents, ambient lighting, linen-topped tables and textured seating.
Home sales data through August 1 reveals 160 lots sold since the January 7 fires, totaling $477.7 million.
John Terzian and Brian Toll, co-founders of The h.wood Group, said the restaurant takes its name from the Palisades’ historic Alphabet Streets.
The numbers indicate a surge in permitting activity, particularly in recent months.
From January to August 2025, Los Angeles approved 179 new homes in the 90272 zip code, with approvals accelerating over time: only two in March but jumping to 76 in August, according
& Grill, a new upscale restaurant from The h.wood Group and James Beard Award-winning chef Tim Hollingsworth, is scheduled to open Aug. 15 at Caruso’s Palisades Village. The restaurant marks the Los Angeles hospitality company’s first neighborhoodfocused concept. It will serve lunch, dinner and drinks in a space designed to function
The market shows stark disparities by area: Area 8 led with 11 sales at an average $10.6 million and median $10.2 million, contributing $116.4 million in volume, while Area 2 had 16 sales averaging $1.7 million. Area 5 saw the most activity with 48 sales averaging $2.1 million. Buyer composition from January to July included 85 individuals (53%), 64 entities (40%), and 11 unknown (7%), pointing to substantial institutional investment in the recovery.
Palisades Village will reopen in August following damage from the January 2025 fires. Returning tenants include Alfred, Angelini Ristorante & Bar, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Erewhon, McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams and Porta Via. New additions include Spacca Tutto, an Italian American steakhouse from chef Nancy Silverton, and K Bakery.
Lawmakers Pass SB 79, Sparking Outcry
Over Local Control Loss
Permit Fees Waived to Speed Palisades Wildfire Rebuilding
Some decried the bill, now on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, for ignoring traffic, infrastructure, environmental, and public safety concerns
By Zach Armstrong
Under the ordinance, the city will waive permitting and clearance fees for repairs or rebuilds up to 110% of the original structure’s floor area.
California lawmakers approved Senate Bill 79, a controversial housing mandate some have decried for ignoring infrastructure and public safety concerns, in mid-September, prompting fierce opposition from Los Angeles leaders.
Mayor Karen Bass has signed an ordinance waiving a wide range of building permit and clearance fees for property owners rebuilding or repairing homes and structures destroyed or damaged in the January 2025 Palisades-area wildfires, city officials said.
The legislation, authored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D–San Francisco), allows for more multi-family housing development near transit stops, permitting taller and denser buildings closer to major transit hubs and allowing transit agencies to build on their own land. The bill also requires a share of affordable housing units in new projects.
along with city leaders and officials, rallied against the bill. “SB 79 is 100 times worse than existing laws,” Pacific Palisades Residents Association President Jessica Rogers said, warning of risks in wildfire-prone areas like the Palisades, citing inadequate evacuation routes and infrastructure strain.
Under the ordinance, the city will waive permitting and clearance fees for repairs or rebuilds up to 110% of the original structure’s floor area as measured by the Department of Building and Safety. Fees will be required for any work exceeding that threshold. The waivers are capped at an aggregate $90 million over three years and apply only to individuals or entities that owned the property on Jan. 7, 2025.
The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety is working out procedures to process refunds for fees already paid on qualifying projects.
Property owners are encouraged to join the LADBS update list by emailing palisadespermitconcierge@lacity.org.
In August, the Los Angeles City Council voted 8–5 in opposition to SB 79, led by Councilwoman Traci Park and Councilmember John Lee. Park, whose district includes the Palisades, called it a “Sacramento attempt to hijack local planning,” silencing residents. The Pacific Palisades Community Council also urged Newsom to veto the bill, referencing his emergency order limiting dense housing in fire zones.
The ordinance lists specific fees waived across multiple city departments, including Building and Safety, Fire, City Planning, Public Works, Housing, Transportation, Cultural Affairs and Recreation and Parks.
“This bill opens the floodgates for developers, displacement, and gentrification, with no regard for our neighborhoods,” Park said in a Sept. 13 statement, noting that Los Angeles has thousands of housing units under construction. SB 79, she argued, would undermine years of planning to place housing along transit corridors.
In late August, a crowd of Palisadians,
The measure took effect July 16, three days after Bass signed it on July 13. It adds a new section to the Los Angeles Municipal Code providing fee relief to help speed reconstruction in neighborhoods hit by the Palisades, Hurst, Kenneth, Archer and Sunset fires.
If a property for which fees were waived — other than condominiums or townhomes — is sold before a certificate of occupancy is issued, the seller must reimburse the city for the full amount of the waived fees. The city will reimburse special funds that would have received the waived fees, plus interest, from the General Fund or another source when money is available.
Days after its passage, Park introduced a motion directing city departments to conduct a comprehensive 90-day the
Temescal Gateway Park to Reopen After 1.5
Years of Fire Recovery Work
Visitors will be able to hike the rebuilt Rivas Trail to two scenic overlooks or continue onward to Will Rogers State Historic Park. The Sunset Trail is also open
Temescal Gateway Park in the Santa Monica Mountains will reopen to the public at 8 a.m. Friday after more than 18 months of fire recovery work, officials announced.
The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority said the park was closed following damage from the Palisades Fire. While many areas have been restored, the popular Temescal Canyon Trail leading to the waterfall will remain closed indefinitely due to unsafe conditions caused by the fire.
Visitors will be able to hike the rebuilt
Rivas Trail to two scenic overlooks or continue onward to Will Rogers State Historic Park. The Sunset Trail is also open, providing access to the Temescal Ridge Trail and Topanga State Park. The Sycamore Grove and Rubell Picnic Areas are available for public use. Restoration involved removing numerous fire-damaged trees, including mature oaks, to protect public safety. Trails
and visitor facilities were repaired with help from the California Conservation Corps, Los Angeles Conservation Corps, Sierra Club, Los Angeles Fire Department and other agencies.
In a separate development, a gravel overflow parking lot in the park — previously used during debris removal — will serve as a temporary staging site for the Los Angeles Department of Water
and Power’s power-line undergrounding project. The agreement between the Conservancy and LADWP has not yet been finalized, according to Conservancy representative Dash Stolarz. A Conservancy statement noted that historical photographs show the site has long been used as an unplanted dirt lot for overflow parking.
17 Candidates Vie for Seats on Palisades Community Council in 2026 Election
The candidates were introduced during the council’s July 23 board meeting. A candidates forum featuring those running in contested races is scheduled for the council’s Aug. 13 meeting.
By Sarah Lin
The Pacific Palisades Community Council has announced the candidates for its 2026 board election, with voting scheduled to take place online from Aug. 21 through Sept. 4 as the community continues rebuilding after the January 2025 wildfire.
The candidates were introduced during the council’s July 23 board meeting. A candidates forum featuring those running in contested races is scheduled for the council’s Aug. 13 meeting.
According to candidate statements
released by the council, much of the campaign centers on wildfire recovery, rebuilding, infrastructure, public safety and emergency preparedness.
Candidates for the two at-large representative seats are incumbent Chris Spitz, a former PPCC chair who highlighted her 18 years on the board and work on issues including land use, homelessness, wildfire safety and rebuilding, and Richard Fink II, superintendent for California State Parks, who cited his role coordinating wildfire recovery efforts, including hazardous materials cleanup and debris removal following the Palisades Fire.
Area 1 candidates Bart Young, Martin Hak and Kate Santoro all emphasized rebuilding and neighborhood resilience. Young pointed to his work opposing development and improving neighborhood security, Hak highlighted his leadership in wildfire preparedness and infrastructure planning after helping protect homes during the fire, while Santoro cited volunteer work with local resiliency and forestry committees.
In Area 2, incumbent Diane Bleak and challenger Kambiz Kamdar both identified wildfire safety, infrastructure and rebuilding as priorities. Bleak said she plans to focus on water reliability, evacuation planning and public safety,
while Kamdar, a general contractor, emphasized helping homeowners navigate the rebuilding process and improving communication with city agencies.
Area 3 candidates Julia Nilsen Lombari and Elissa Ashwood both referenced losing homes in the fire. Lombari said she would continue advocating for transparent decision-making and responsible rebuilding, while Ashwood highlighted her work organizing neighborhood recovery calls, emergency preparedness efforts and support for standing-home owners.
Three candidates are seeking the Area 4 seat: Rebecca Lobl, Karen Ridgley and Eliana Bernstein. Their statements focus on wildfire resilience, neighborhood safety, rebuilding assistance and representing displaced residents.
In Area 5, candidates May Sung and
incumbent Kimberly Bloom both cited their roles in post-fire recovery. Sung highlighted her background as an architect and support for resilient infrastructure and underground utilities, while Bloom pointed to her advocacy on permit fee waivers, wildfire recovery and accountability in the distribution of recovery funding.
Incumbent Lorie Cudzil is the only candidate for Area 6, while Sharon Kilbride and Andrew Wolfberg are unopposed in Areas 7 and 8, respectively. Their statements emphasize continued recovery efforts, public safety, neighborhood communication and preserving the character of Pacific Palisades.
Electronic voting will be conducted through the council’s website from Aug. 21 through Sept. 4.
NOW ENROLLING TK - KINDERGARTEN
Rubber From Palisades High School’s Damaged Running Track to be Used for LA Metro Walkways: REPORT
The athletic track was heavily damaged during the 2025 wildfire. Instead of being sent to a landfill, the salvaged material is being recycled through a partnership with Ecore International.
More than 140,000 pounds of rubber from a fire-damaged running track at Palisades Charter High School is getting a second life as pedestrian walkways for the Los Angeles Metro system ahead of the 2028 Olympics, according to a report from Resource Recycling.
The athletic track was heavily damaged during the 2025 wildfire. Instead of being sent to a landfill, the salvaged material is being recycled through a partnership with
Ecore International, according to the outlet. Ecore, a Pennsylvania-based company that specializes in turning reclaimed rubber into new surfacing products, processed the material at a facility in Fontana, California. The rubber was ground into pellets and incorporated into walkway materials for Metro infrastructure improvements.
Thom Carmo, Ecore’s program manager of circularity, told Resource Recycling that about 10% to 15% of the track was too damaged to reuse, but the rest was successfully recovered. The material never left the region: it was hauled from Pacific Palisades, processed in Fontana and returned to Los Angeles for installation.
The Palisades Fire burned more than 23,000 acres and created massive debris challenges. Synthetic running tracks, made with rubber granules and specialty binders, are difficult to recycle through conventional systems and often end up in landfills when damaged or at the end of their lifespan. Ecore’s take-back program aims to change that, telling Resource Recycling that nothing from its projects goes to the landfill, with even fine rubber dust diverted for use in asphalt or energy production.
Protective Walls Along PCH Restored After Fire Damage
The Palisades Fire in January 2025 heavily damaged the catchment wall south of Big Rock Drive. Crews replaced it with new steel beams and concrete lagging.
Caltrans has restored two fire-damaged protective walls along Pacific Coast Highway/State Route 1, marking a significant milestone in recovery efforts following the Palisades Fire.
The agency on Wednesday announced the completion of a 460-foot catchment wall south of Big Rock Drive and a 710foot retaining wall south of Getty Villa Drive, known locally as the “Getty Villa wall.” Both structures were rebuilt with enhanced fire resiliency to better protect the highway from future wildfires and storms.
The Palisades Fire in January 2025
heavily damaged the catchment wall south of Big Rock Drive. Crews replaced it with new steel beams and concrete lagging, and added a protective concrete barrier, a new drainage system,
reconstructed pavement, wire mesh for rockfall protection on the slope and a security fence. The project cost approximately $17 million. The nearby retaining wall below the
Villa also sustained fire damage. Repairs included replacing damaged panels and applying a fire-protective coating to the wood lagging.
Getty
Nonprofit Proposes Rebuilding 60 Affordable Homes for Displaced Palisades Families
The foundation plans to purchase burned lots in portions of Palisades, construct what it calls “Heritage Homes,” and offer them at below-market prices to displaced families who commit to living in the community.
The Palisades Community Council will hold a special virtual meeting July 29 to hear a presentation on the Uplifters Foundation’s proposal to rebuild approximately 60 homes for families displaced by the wildfire.
The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m.
via Zoom and follows the Los Angeles City Council’s recent approval of a bond financing proposal associated with the nonprofit’s rebuilding program.
According to advance meeting materials, the Uplifters Foundation plans to purchase burned residential lots in portions of Pacific Palisades, construct what it calls “Heritage Homes,” and offer them at below-market prices to displaced families who commit to living in the community for several years.
Foundation officials describe the effort as a nonprofit recovery program rather than a traditional real estate development. The organization said it intends to finance construction through approximately $200 million in tax-exempt revenue bonds to reduce borrowing costs and direct more funding toward rebuilding homes.
The proposal focuses on rebuilding roughly 60 single-family homes in the Lower Marquez, Alphabet Streets, Las Casas and El Medio neighborhoods. The homes are expected to average about 2,600 square feet and be designed to reflect the character of the neighborhoods before the fire.
Under the program, the nonprofit would purchase fire-damaged or vacant lots, build homes, and sell them to eligible displaced families. Foundation
officials said the financing is structured to be repaid through the sale of completed homes rather than long-term rental income or property speculation.
The Uplifters Foundation, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation recognized as a tax-exempt organization, said any funds remaining after repayment of the bonds would be distributed as community grants before the organization dissolves.
The foundation said its independent board includes state Sen. Ben Allen and
Brandon Crawley and that several legal and real estate firms are providing pro bono assistance. It also said discussions are underway with manufacturers about discounted or donated building materials. The organization emphasized that it is not seeking funding or formal approval from the Palisades Community Council. Instead, it said the July 29 meeting is intended to provide information about the proposal, answer questions from residents and gather community feedback.
A Class for Every Dream
SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Dr. Sion Roy, Chair; Dr. Tom Peters, Vice Chair; Dr. Luis Barrera Castañón; Anastasia Foster; Dr. Nancy Greenstein; Dr. Margaret Quiñones-Perez; Rob Rader; Audrey Liljegren, Student Trustee; Kathryn E. Jeffery, Ph.D., Superintendent/President Santa Monica College 1900 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405