In the wake of devastating fires that destroyed much of Altadena's historic architecture, an innovative solution inspired by the past could help rebuild the community.
Local architects have established the Foothill Catalog Foundation, drawing inspiration from early 20th-century Sears catalogs that offered complete home kits. The nonprofit aims to develop pre-approved home designs that honor Altadena's architectural heritage, including Mediterranean, Craftsman, mid-century, and Janes Cottage styles.
"In Altadena, where there's so many multigenerational homeowners, a lot of people who might be underinsured or just not insured at all, will likely not have the resources or the emotional bandwidth to go through the process of doing a custom rebuild," explained co-founder Emily Sigler.
The foundation's approach could streamline reconstruction while preserving the community's character. Pre-planned designs would reduce costs and expedite the building process, making rebuilding more accessible to displaced residents.
Callum Hanlon, who lost his home on Poppyfields Drive, sees the value in this approach. "I would rather have that than be going back and forth with the county and spending upwards of $60,000 on an architect in a year of revisions to get the perfect home," he said.
The nonprofit is working with L.A. County's Planning and Building and Safety departments while consulting insurance carriers about requirements. Community input remains central to the project's vision.
"What makes this place special is its people," Sigler noted. "We definitely don't want to be a group of architects telling the community how we think they should rebuild — we've always really felt that it should be the other way around."
The initiative aims to protect Altadena's legacy, including its historically Black neighborhoods, while ensuring current residents can return to their community. Through pre-approved designs and potential bulk ordering of materials, the foundation hopes to make rebuilding both affordable and true to the area's architectural roots.