Modular Housing Showcase in Altadena Offers Faster Rebuilding Options for Fire Survivors
Ten months after the Eaton fire destroyed thousands of homes in Altadena, a showcase of modular and prefabricated housing designs is offering a glimpse of what’s possible for survivors who seek to return to their properties more quickly and affordably than traditional rebuilds.
Pastor John McCall arrived at the housing showcase recently and said he soon felt a jolt of hope and possibility.
“I was just thinking when I went through the container house: ‘Wow, I can move that to our property today, and wouldn’t have to drive in,” said McCall, who lost his Altadena home of 45 years in the wildfire and had to relocate his family to Porter Ranch.
“As many people are struggling and trying to figure out what’s the next step on that journey to rebuild, (the showcase) will offer them tremendous options to look at,” said McCall, pastor at Bethel Church in Pasadena. “This will offer this community a beacon of bright hope to come see what’s possible and that you can come back home.”
The showcase – opening to the public on Nov. 8 in Altadena – is the result of a collaboration between LA4LA, cityLAB-UCLA, Wells Fargo and a coalition of community, research and philanthropic organizations. The effort is meant to address not only the urgent needs of fire-displaced families, but also the region’s larger housing affordability crisis.
The California Community Foundation provided financial support to the organizations involved in the showcase.
“This is what philanthropy in action looks like,” said Miguel A. Santana, President and CEO of CCF. “This is here so that the community can come back to their neighborhood and visualize what it could be like. Where else can you go where you see different kinds of housing models to literally kick the tires and say ‘I want this one in my neighborhood.’”
The prefabricated homes range in cost from $90,000 to $200,000. Comparatively, prices for a newly constructed similarly sized home range from $500,000 to $1,000,000. Some modular and prefabricated options can be used as single-family homes and others can be used as ADUs while the primary homes are rebuilt and later converted to family housing or rentals, supporters said.
LA4LA is a public-private project supported by CCF that aims to create affordable housing without using taxpayer money. The housing showcase builds on LA4LA’s goal to innovate and facilitate the creation of housing quickly and affordably, both to alleviate the ongoing housing crisis and to restore the thriving communities that were lost to the fires, said Sarah Dusseault, Lead Strategist at LA4LA.
“This effort is about helping wildfire survivors return home while also bringing scalable solutions to our region’s housing crisis,” Dusseault said. “LA4LA is about driving down the cost of housing and urgently making housing available.”
The housing showcase was produced in partnership with the County of Los Angeles, RnLA, ARRC, CORE and other key stakeholders. It featured six different types of modular and prefab homes that included container, 3D-printed and solar models from leading companies: AMEG with New Economics for Women, Villa, Azure, Conex Modular, Liv Connected, and Sola/Model Z. The homes were installed on county-owned vacant land in just four weeks – much faster than traditional building timelines.
“Modulars and prefab homes offer real, tangible solutions for wildfire survivors,” said Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. “As families approach the end of insurance rental assistance, it’s critical we provide fast, affordable housing that helps them return home and strengthens our community.”
The showcase draws on research and extensive community engagement, including listening sessions with wildfire survivors facilitated by groups such as Community Women Vital Voices.
“This partnership shows that with innovation and heart, we can rebuild lives faster and stronger—proving recovery after disaster doesn’t have to take years,” said Lena Kennedy, President and CEO of Community Women Vital Voices.
Dana Cuff, distinguished professor and founding director of cityLAB-UCLA, said the research center helped with community engagement and data collection to make the showcase a reality. Prefab homes and ADUs are an important option for Altadena’s residents, she said.
“We want people to be able to see and feel different rebuilding options,” Cuff said. “Custom built houses will be right for some people, but others will want a faster way to get back home.”
The showcase also includes onsite case management and financing options for wildfire survivors, said Tracy Reines, CORE’s disaster response lead for the L.A. wildfires.
“CORE’s Disaster Case Managers engage with residents daily, and nearly all of the concerns they hear revolve around housing – from affordability and availability to navigating the process and finding a true sense of home,” Reines said. “This innovative prefab marketplace highlights the possibilities for what can be achieved right here in Altadena.”
The Altadena Modular Housing Showcase is located at 2231 Lincoln Avenue and will be open Wednesday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. For more information, read the Altadena Prefab Housing Handbook online.
– Ben Poston