People + Places – Virtual Event – Recording from March 12, 2025
ALTADENA: AFTER THE FIRE AND MOVING FORWARD
A conversation on how preservation and heritage can support Altadena’s recovery and rebuilding efforts after the devastating Eaton Fire.

The L.A. Conservancy is collaborating with local partners to aid in recovery efforts that honor and preserve the communities’ histories, culture, and sense of place after the devastating fires that began on January 7, 2025.

On March 19th, the Conservancy and World Monuments Fund (WMF) announced a coordinated effort, alongside the National Trust for Historic Preservation, to document and assess heritage sites affected by the fires which burned over 50,000 acres and destroyed more than 16,000 structures—inflicting a severe toll on the region’s cultural heritage.

This tragic loss of beloved homes, neighborhoods, legacy businesses, and many historic places has inspired community groups, coalitions, and organizations like the Conservancy to develop innovative ideas and potential tools to help rebuild.

Immediately after the fires, the County of Los Angeles documented all properties affected, categorizing their condition from minor damage to total loss. Since the fires occurred in areas with varying levels of pre-existing historic resource data, the documentation efforts did not always account for heritage sites.

We engaged Architectural Resources Group (ARG) on a mapping project (below) as part of the first phase of this initiative to fully document the post-fire impacts of the Palisades and Eaton Fires on heritage resources, regardless of formal designation.

We collaborated with community partners, including Altadena Heritage, on these efforts and thank Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles for their assistance. This work represents a critical step towards ensuring that historic and cultural resources are recognized and considered in the county’s long-term recovery and reconstruction efforts.

This initiative builds on the efforts to ensure that well-known landmarks and underrecognized heritage are accounted for in all of the areas affected by the fires. These efforts will play a vital role in the rebuilding process and help ensure that cultural heritage remains a cornerstone of recovery. Safeguarding these places helps communities reclaim a sense of continuity and identity, both essential to long-term recovery.

Beyond this initial documentation phase, project efforts include in-depth structural assessments by architects and engineers to provide guidance and resources for heritage-sensitive rebuilding. The Conservancy would also like to expand this effort to include a full community-wide survey of heritage resources throughout Altadena. By integrating cultural heritage into Los Angeles’ disaster response, this initiative will help safeguard the city’s history and identity for generations to come.

Disclaimer: Many of the resources on the map are assigned California Historical Resources Status Codes, which tell if a site is designated, eligible, or has another historic status. However, due to the the age of some survey data, these status codes may be out of date.

World Monuments Fund’s Crisis Response Program has been supported, in part, by the Donald A. Pels Charitable Trust, ALIPH, the Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye Foundation, Denise Gwyn Ferguson, and other generous donors.

This project has been funded in part by a grant from the National Trust Preservation Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The L.A. Conservancy enlisted a network of professionals and service providers with expertise in working with older and historic places who may offer discounted rates or pro bono services for those impacted by the wildfires, depending on the services provided.

Interested in being added to this list? Click here to submit an interest form.

Click here to see expanded list on another tab.

The Los Angeles Conservancy makes no claims or endorsements of businesses offering any products or services listed in this directory.

The Conservancy is actively gathering resources to share with property owners. Check back often, as this page will be updated continuously.

The Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office is committed to supporting property owners during this difficult time. While they await a comprehensive assessment of the damage, they are preparing to activate resources to assist affected residents, including:

• On-the-Ground Support: Assessor staff will be present at Local Assistance Centers established by the County, offering guidance and resources to property owners.
• Expedited Property Tax Relief: The County will process “Misfortune and Calamity” claims for property tax relief for properties damaged or destroyed by the wildfires.

“Misfortune and Calamity” Property Tax Relief

Property damaged or destroyed by the windstorms or wildfires may qualify for temporary property tax relief through the Misfortune and Calamity program. Key details include:

• Eligibility: The damage must exceed $10,000 in the current market value of the property.
• Filing Deadline: Claims must be filed within 12 months of the date of the damage.
• Benefits: Approved claims may result in temporary property tax relief, with adjustments made to reflect the reduced value of your property until repairs or rebuilding are completed.

For more information and to download the claim form (ADS-820) go to assessor.lacounty.gov/tax-relief/disaster-relief or call (213) 974-8658.

The City of Los Angeles has compiled a list of verified general contractors, architects and landscape architects who are ready to assist in rebuilding homes, public spaces, and businesses.  https://bca.lacity.gov/rebuildLA

Local, state, and federal agencies are preparing business assistance resources for those affected by the wildfires. Below are a few helpful resources currently available.

• Business to Business Space Share is a free exchange portal designed to provide immediate relief to businesses, including non-profits, displaced by the winds and wildfires by connecting them to donated temporary space generously provided by other businesses and organizations throughout LA County. This service is provided for a limited time by the County of Los Angeles.
• The City of Los Angeles’s Economic Workforce & Development Department has gathered local, state, and federal resources available for businesses and workers impacted by the Los Angeles City Wildfires.
• Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity’s Emergency Resources for Workers and Businesses
• Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation’s Guide to Planning for Business Operations After Natural Disasters
• Together for L.A.’s Small Business Support and Recovery Resources
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans may be available to homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes in areas covered by a disaster declaration. Applicants may talk with an SBA representative at a Local Assistance Center from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily (Pasadena City College Community Education Center, 3035 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107 or UCLA Research Park West, 10850 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064). You may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is March 31, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Oct. 8, 2025.
• Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network’s Disaster Response Guide for Small Businesses – a guide for small business owners responding to major disasters, such as fires and earthquakes.

*GRANTS*

Restaurants Care has opened a temporary fund to provide emergency relief grans to food and beverage workers impacted by the L.A. area wildfires. Application deadline: March 14, 2025, 11:59 p.m. For more info: https://restaurantscare.org/help/