What We Know About Palisades’ Upcoming Italian Steakhouse
Data Shows Rebuilding Progress in PostFire Palisades
The numbers indicate a surge in permitting activity, particularly in recent months
The menu at Spacca Tutto will feature a robust steak program
in the property’s revitalization.
to Pali Builds’ September 1 analysis.
A new dining destination is coming to Palisades Village: Spacca Tutto, an Italian-American steakhouse set to open in August 2026. The venture is the product of a collaboration between chef Nancy Silverton, developer Rick Caruso and River Jetty Restaurant Group.
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.
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
Silverton, a four-time James Beard Award winner, will bring her Italian culinary expertise together with classic American steakhouse fare in the new venue, which will be located in the heart of Palisades Village. Caruso said the concept reflects “resilience, creativity and courage”—qualities he sees in the local community following the January 2025 wildfires that damaged the site. The project also represents a significant step
The menu at Spacca Tutto will feature a robust steak program, seafood, seasonal vegetable dishes and lighterfare offerings, alongside a bar menu and approximately 250 Italian and domestic wines. The design is led by décor firm AvroKO and will include a roughly 3,000-square-foot interior and a 1,500-square-foot patio.
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.
Home sales data through August 1 reveals 160 lots sold since the January 7 fires, totaling $477.7 million.
River Jetty co-founder Joseph “McG” Nichol described the venue as part of a broader effort to bring hospitality, jobs and vibrancy back to the Palisades community.
Early media reports suggest the restaurant will anchor the forthcoming reopening of Palisades Village, a property that was temporarily closed and undergoing repairs after the fire in early 2025.
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.
Lawmakers Pass SB 79, Sparking Outcry Over Local Control Loss
Accused Pali Fire Arsonist Pleads Not Guilty in LA Courtroom, Could Face Up to 45 Years
Some decried the bill, now
on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, for ignoring traffic, infrastructure, environmental, and public safety concerns
By Zach Armstrong
A former Palisades resident, the man faces several charges including one of destruction of property by means of fire and another of arson affecting property
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.
A 29-year-old man accused of igniting the Palisades Fire — one of the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in California history — pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal arson charges in a Los Angeles courtroom.
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.
Federal prosecutors allege that Rinderknecht deliberately started a small blaze, known as the Lachman Fire, in Temescal Canyon shortly after midnight on New Year’s Day. Though firefighters initially believed the fire was contained, officials say it smoldered underground before reigniting nearly a week later and spreading across Pacific Palisades and Malibu as the Palisades Fire.
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.
Rinderknecht was arrested on Oct. 7 at his sister’s home in Orlando, Florida, and extradited to Los Angeles. The judge ordered him to remain in custody pending trial, scheduled for Dec. 16, according to reports.
Investigators said Rinderknecht, who was working as an Uber driver the night of the first fire, was seen near the ignition site and made multiple 911 calls to report it. His cellphone data placed him within 30 feet of the scene, prosecutors said. Court documents also cite search histories and AI-generated images on his phone depicting cities engulfed in flames.
“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,
Jonathan Rinderknecht, a former Palisades resident, is charged with one count of destruction of property by means of fire, one count of arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and one count of timber set afire, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. If convicted, he faces up to 45 years in federal prison.
Federal officials described the Palisades blaze as a “holdover fire” — a type of smoldering underground fire that can reignite days later when winds and conditions shift.
Days after its passage, Park introduced a motion directing city departments to conduct a comprehensive 90-day the
Filming Spot for ‘Succession’, Mobile Home Park among Palisades Properties Declared Public Nuisances
Each property was damaged during recent wildfires and failed to meet the city’s Oct. 2 deadline to clear ash, rubble, and fire debris
Los Angeles officials have declared eight fire-damaged properties in the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood public nuisances, citing health and safety risks from toxic debris that remains uncleared nearly two weeks after a city-imposed deadline.
The Board of Building and Safety Commissioners voted unanimously on Oct. 8 to designate the properties — a mix of luxury estates, multifamily units and mobile home parks — as public nuisances under the city’s municipal code. The move empowers the city to initiate cleanup operations and charge the property owners for the cost, unless owners act first.
Each property was damaged during recent wildfires and failed to meet the city’s Oct. 2 deadline to clear ash, rubble, and fire debris, according to staff with the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. The ruling is not appealable.
One of the properties — a 16,000-squarefoot hilltop mansion at 1601 N. San Onofre Drive — was used as a filming location for the HBO drama Succession. The sixbedroom estate, which sold for $83 million in 2021, was purchased through a trust.
According to The Los Angeles Times, the owner withdrew from a federal debris removal program out of concern that government contractors would damage salvageable portions of the home. The owner later learned that private cleanup could cost up to $600,000 and attempted to rejoin the federal program, but was too late.
In total, the following properties were declared public nuisances:
■ 15300 and 15314 W. Antioch Street
■ 1601 N. San Onofre Drive
■ 556 N. Via de la Paz
■ 16321 W. Pacific Coast Highway
■ 16815 W. Bollinger Drive
■ 16525 W. Sunset Blvd., Unit 12
■ 17311 W. Castellammare Drive
According to The Times, all eight owners either opted out of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ federally managed debris removal program or were deemed ineligible. Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) guidelines excluded some multifamily and commercial properties from automatic eligibility — including Pacific Palisades Bowl, a 170-unit mobile home park near Will Rogers State Beach. A timeline for when those bids will be sought has not been established.
$104K in Grants Approved for Palisades Post-Fire Rebuilding
The funding will be allocated to the Palisades Residents Association, Palisades Charter High School and The Seed Bomb Project
The Pacific Palisades Community Council Board has approved three community recovery grants totaling $104,000, supporting local safety, education, and environmental restoration efforts in the wake of this year’s devastating wildfires.
The PPCC Grants Committee recommended funding for the Pacific Palisades Residents Association (PPRA), Palisades Charter High School (PCHS), and The Seed Bomb Project, each addressing a different aspect of post-fire community rebuilding.
The largest grant, $71,000, will go to the Pacific Palisades Residents Association to operate and expand Flock Safety
license plate reader cameras along Sunset Boulevard and other key entry and exit points. The system, described by PPRA as a “virtual gate,” aims to deter theft and assist law enforcement as rebuilding continues. Existing cameras recently aided Los Angeles police in apprehending burglary suspects in the Highlands neighborhood.
A $30,000 grant was awarded to Palisades Charter High School for the purchase and installation of new cafeteria tables and benches, replacing equipment that sustained smoke damage and wear over 25 years. The high school, which temporarily relocated to the former Santa Monica Sears building after the fire, is preparing to reopen its campus in early 2026. School officials said the new furniture will help create “a safe and welcoming space” for returning students.
The final $3,000 grant supports The Seed Bomb Project, a youth-led environmental initiative founded by 14-year-old Rummy Goodyear after losing his home in the fire. The program engages local teens in creating and distributing native wildflower “seed bombs” to help restore burned landscapes and foster ecological recovery. The group partners with the Theodore Payne Foundation to ensure the seeds used are fire-adapted and drought-tolerant.
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Duke’s Malibu Sets Reopening Timeline After Mudslide Closure
The restaurant has been closed since a mudslide inundated the property with mud and debris weeks after it survived the wildfire
Duke’s Malibu, a beloved seaside restaurant hit hard by mudslides following the Palisades Fire, is planning a phased return this fall. The Barefoot Bar is slated to reopen in mid-November, with the full restaurant expected to resume operations before the year ends, according to a recent Facebook announcement.
The restaurant, located on Pacific Coast Highway, has been closed since a February mudslide inundated the property with mud and debris, halting operations just weeks after it survived the Palisades Fire.
General Manager Jimmy Chavez, who oversaw the closure of 130 staff positions amid the recovery, described the initial cleanup to LAist in July as a grueling twomonth process that required gutting the building and replacing plumbing, electrical systems, and kitchen equipment.
The mudslide, which followed a January fire that spared the structure but devastated surrounding homes, turned a planned reopening into an eight- to nine-month rebuild. Chavez noted community support from local officials, the health department, and insurers, calling the overhaul a “blessing in disguise” that allowed for a full refresh of the nearly 30-year-old establishment, LAist previously reported.
Rams’ Kyren Williams Helps Palisades
Youth with Day of Flag
Parents said the event lifted spirits after months of loss and rebuilding
Months after wildfires tore through Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams joined local families and young athletes to help the community get back on its feet — and back on the field.
Williams spent the day at the Pacific Palisades Recreation Center with young
Football
flag football players, many returning to play for the first time since the fires destroyed equipment and disrupted programs, according to a post made by NFL.com. The Rams donated new gear and joined in drills and games as part of a broader community recovery effort.
“I was in disbelief,” Williams said in an attached video, recalling the days of the fires. “Coming from the Midwest, you don’t hear a lot about wildfires. Seeing families evacuate, the smoke in the sky — it was scary. Being out here today, seeing the kids laugh and smile, it means everything. Football changes everything.”
Recreation center director Jasmine Dowlatshahi said the Rams’ outreach made a major difference. “We lost all of our flag football equipment in the fire,” she said. “The Rams reached out and asked what they could do for us — not only to support with equipment but to bring the community together.”
Parents said the event lifted spirits after months of loss and rebuilding. “Talk about getting morale up,” said parent Amber Feld in the video. “Only about 90% of that field had burned, but these kids were smiling so much. It was wonderful to see.”
Palisades Mural Set for “Full Restoration”, Volunteers Sought for Initial Cleaning
The community wash will prepare the surface for a full professional restoration, while also inviting local residents to reconnect
Volunteers are invited to participate in a community “bubble bath” of the historic Temescal Canyon Mural next month, marking the first step in a full restoration of the beloved Pacific Palisades landmark. The mural, painted more than 40 years ago by students near Palisades High School, will undergo its initial cleaning on the weekend of November 15–16. The event is being organized by original mural artist Cathy Salser and longtime Palisades resident Cindy Simon.
Dubbed the “Mural Bubblebath,” the event will be held in two shifts each day— from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.—at the mural site near the intersection of Temescal Canyon Road and Bowdoin Street.
According to the organizers, the community wash will prepare the surface for a full professional restoration, while also inviting local residents to reconnect with the artwork and its message of environmental and cultural reflection.
Created in the 1980s by local students, the mural celebrates the natural beauty and history of the Pacific Palisades area, reflecting on its indigenous roots and evolving relationship with the land.
As of Monday, several volunteer slots for the weekend shifts remain open. Organizers have shared detailed instructions for participants, including what to wear, at bit. ly/MuralBubblebathInfo.
The restoration effort is being led by Salser, a 1984 graduate of Palisades High School, and Kat Kozik, Class of 1983, with support from Simon and other community members.
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PETA Urges Animal Cruelty Charges in Palisades Fire Case
A senior analyst with PETA outlined incidents of animal suffering, including one case of a woman who reportedly refused to evacuate in order to stay with her pets
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is calling on the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office to file animal cruelty charges against a man federally indicted for allegedly starting the destructive Pacific Palisades fire.
On October 15, a federal grand jury indicted Jonathan Rinderknecht on charges including malicious destruction by means of fire in connection with the wildfire. Now, PETA is urging District Attorney Nathan Hochman to pursue additional state charges, citing the fire’s toll on domestic and wild animals.
Urban Jungle
“Countless wild and domestic animals suffered unimaginable fear and pain due to the horrific Palisades Fire,” said PETA Vice President Daniel Paden in a statement.
“We’re asking District Attorney Hochman to hold the perpetrator accountable for the suffering endured by so many.”
In a letter sent Monday, Sarah Deffinger, a senior analyst with PETA’s Cruelty Investigations Department, outlined multiple incidents of animal suffering. Among them was the case of Annette Rossilli, who reportedly refused to evacuate in order to stay with her pets—two parrots, a turtle, a canary named Pepper, and a dog named Greetly—who are believed to have died in the blaze.
PETA also cited a rabbit found dead in the debris, and a cat named Aggie who survived on her own for two months after the fire destroyed her home. She was eventually rescued by the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter. Another cat, Ridges, suffered burns that required surgery to remove damaged skin, and veterinarians in the area treated several animals for smoke inhalation, burns, and other injuries. Under California law, causing unnecessary or unjustifiable pain or suffering to animals can result in felony
animal cruelty charges. PETA’s letter argues that Rinderknecht’s alleged actions meet the legal definition.
PETA referenced successful prosecutions in Monterey County and Oregon where similar charges were pursued after the organization filed complaints.
“Every animal is someone,” the organization said in its statement, encouraging the public to never leave pets behind during emergencies.
Mayor Bass Requests Mansion Tax Exemption for Palisades Fire Survivors
Bass noted that potential buyers are factoring in Measure ULA costs — a voter-approved tax on high-value home sales that funds affordable housing and homelessness prevention
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has asked the City Council to approve an ordinance that would exempt homeowners affected by the January Palisades Fire from the city’s Measure ULA real estate transfer tax for a one-time, three-year period, according to a letter sent Thursday to council members and the director of finance.
The proposal aims to facilitate quicker property sales and rebuilding in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, where the winddriven wildfire destroyed more than 1,000
structures and scorched over 200 acres before being contained on Jan. 31. In the letter, Bass noted that potential buyers are factoring in Measure ULA costs — a voter-approved tax on high-value home sales that funds affordable housing and homelessness prevention — when making offers, leading to below-market bids that delay transactions for fire victims seeking to relocate.
“Many homeowners affected by the fires are long-time residents living on fixed incomes and with much of their life savings tied to the equity in their property,” Bass wrote. She added that stalled sales are leaving vacant lots empty and undamaged homes lingering on the market, hindering overall recovery efforts.
Measure ULA, enacted in 2022, has generated hundreds of millions of dollars for housing initiatives but does not address exemptions for natural disaster survivors, according to the letter. Bass suggested the temporary waiver would encourage new construction and renovations, ultimately increasing the city’s housing supply and boosting future tax revenue from subsequent sales.
Under the plan, the City Council would first delegate expanded authority to Finance Director Diana Mangioglu to
issue rules for the exemption. Bass said she would then follow with an executive directive to implement it, targeting owners who occupied residential properties in the fire zone at the time of the blaze.
The request comes amid ongoing recovery from the fire, which Bass described in the letter as progressing toward what could be the fastest disaster rebuild in California history. She cited the approval of more than 850 rebuilding plans for over 450 addresses, with hundreds more under review and at least 230 homes
now under construction. Permits for singlefamily rebuilds are being processed nearly three times faster than pre-fire averages, and more than 70% of typical clearance requirements have been waived, according to the letter.
Bass has issued nine emergency executive orders and two directives since the fire to streamline utilities restoration, debris removal and permitting under a “Return and Rebuild” strategy launched with Executive Order No. 1.
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Dr. Nancy Greenstein, Chair; Dr. Sion Roy, Vice Chair; Dr. Luis Barrera Castañón; Anastasia Foster; Dr. Margaret Quiñones-Perez; Dr. Tom Peters; Rob Rader; Sophia Manavi, Student Trustee; Kathryn E. Jeffery, Ph.D.,
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