There were 75 new building permits issued in August, Pali Builds released in a report on September 11. The site, the brainchild of general contractor Kambiz “Combi” Kamdar and software developer Frank Renfro, is easily understood click here.
In August there were 237 total permits issued, with 74 new single family building permit. One new commercial building permit was issued.
They write, “As of August 31, we have a total of 179 new home building permits issued since the fire. (Excluding permits originating pre-fire.)” There were about 5,419 homes lost in the Palisades Fire. That is about three percent of the homes destroyed. Not everyone is rebuilding, many people are financially underwater because of mortgages, lack of insurance, seniors, or parents with children who have permanently located elsewhere.
The time for issuing permits from the City has slowed slightly.
In March, there were two permits issued, and the average time was 31 days to receive a permit. April saw five permits and it took 46 days for a permit. May was 24 permits and an average of 56 days for a permit. June had 29 permits issued at an average of 71 days to receive permit. July there were 39 permits issued and the time was 63 days. In August, it took about 77 days for a building permit. Renfro and Kamdar write “This is only for ‘New Building’ permits, not swimming pools, demo, etc.”
The site also has a list of active builders and architects working in the Palisades. There is also a Q & A site. Sample questions such as “Are permit fees waived?” are asked.
The answer “Per Mayor Bass” executive order, residents might have the fees waived for permits. Currently, those residents pulling permits signing a document temporarily waiving the fees until the city council approves it. If it does not pass city council then the homeowners will be responsible to pay the permits. There has also been some questions about what rebuilds this applies to. It applies to ALL rebuilds, not just like for like.”
Theres also a checklist, which tells people the order that things should be done, starting with debris removal to a survey to placing no trespass signs and where to get them.
Kamdar, a fourth-generation contractor, is a Highlands resident, whose children attend school in Pacific Palisades. He’s a member of the Palisades Recreation Center Park Advisory Board, and a youth baseball coach for Pacific Palisades baseball association.
Renfro, a software developer is also a long-time resident and has coached AYSO soccer and serves on the Palisades Rebuild Council.
The Westside Current ran a September 12 story (“Palisadians Turn Code and Construction into a Real-Data Lifeline for the Palisades”) that explains “The two met through the Palisades Rebuild Council, where they say meetings too often lacked the kind of local, hands-on expertise homeowners needed on general contracting and insurance. Kamdar notes there were other builders and developers in the room early on — but mostly big production outfits, not the on-the-ground general contractors likely to build in the Palisades. ‘I kept leaving frustrated — no clear path, no realistic options,’ Kamdar said.
“’We truly want people to see that neighbors are moving forward,’ Kamdar said. ‘At the same time, tracking real timelines helps hold agencies accountable if the process is too slow.’ Renfro put it in practical terms: the rumor mill was ‘off the charts,’ and publishing the data helps eliminate the unknowns that slow people down.”