Demonstration homes on Tonia Avenue offer a real-time look at navigating permits, costs, and construction
As rebuilding efforts continue in Altadena following the Eaton Fire, progress has been uneven. While roughly 6,000 residential structures were lost, only about half that number of rebuilding applications had been filed as of late March 2026, underscoring the complexity many homeowners continue to face in navigating the process.
A new initiative on Tonia Avenue is attempting to address that challenge by making the rebuilding process more visible, and more understandable, in real time.
The Foothill Catalog Foundation, a nonprofit focused on streamlining recovery through pre-approved home designs, has begun construction on two demonstration homes intended to serve as working examples for families moving through permitting, planning, and construction. Grading is underway, with vertical construction expected to begin imminently.
Rather than functioning as static models, the homes are designed to act as “living case studies,” offering homeowners and community members a chance to see how decisions around design, materials, timelines, and cost come together in practice.
“Rebuilding after a disaster is not only about restoring structures, it’s about restoring a sense of place,” said Cynthia Sigler, co-founder of the Foothill Catalog Foundation. “These homes are meant to show that there is a clear pathway forward, one that respects Altadena’s architectural character while simplifying the mechanics of rebuilding.”
The homes themselves reflect Foothill Catalog’s approach to pairing regionally inspired architecture with practical, flexible living solutions. One of the featured designs, The Lexington, draws from the California Bungalow tradition and is paired with The Opa ADU, a compact studio unit designed for independent or multigenerational living. The second, The Elizabeth, is an English Cottage–inspired home complemented by The Lily ADU, a one-bedroom unit that offers additional space for extended family, guests, or rental income.
Incorporating accessory dwelling units into each home highlights a growing shift in post-disaster rebuilding, where flexibility is increasingly essential.
The project also reflects a broader effort to address both cost and time barriers that have slowed recovery across the region. By utilizing pre-approved designs, the initiative aims to reduce permitting timelines and construction complexity while maintaining alignment with the area’s historic architectural styles.
On the construction side, the homes are being built by Williams Rebuild, a Southern California-based firm focused on wildfire recovery, which is constructing the demonstration homes at cost. The effort is supported through philanthropic funding from the Callahan Family Foundation.
As construction progresses, the site is expected to serve as an informal resource for homeowners, builders, and community members seeking a clearer understanding of what rebuilding entails—from permitting and sequencing to finish selection and budgeting.
In a recovery landscape where many families remain stalled, efforts like this are beginning to shift the conversation from planning to visible progress on the ground.
