The first house was rebuilt in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire

Less than a year after 6,822 buildings burned in the Palisades Fire, the first rebuilding project has reached the finish line in Pacific Palisades: a two-story showcase home in the 900 block of Kagawa Street.

In a press release, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced Friday that the home has received a certificate of occupancy from the LA Department of Building and Safety, meaning it has passed inspection and is safe to occupy.

“Today is an important moment of hope,” Bass said in a statement. “As more and more projects in Pacific Palisades near completion, the City of Los Angeles remains committed to expediting every aspect of the rebuilding process until every family is back home.”

The house was built by developer Thomas James Homes. Jamie Mead, the company’s CEO, said the permitting process took two months and the reconstruction took six months.

“Given that the community needs housing, we thought this would be a great opportunity to show them what we can do,” Mead said.

Numerous rebuilding permits have been issued — nearly 2,000 in both the Palisades and Eaton fire zones, according to state information. rebuild dashboard – and the first few reach the finish line. Earlier this week, an Altadena ADU also received a certificate of occupancy.

The Palisades property, however, is much larger in scope, with four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms in almost 4,000 square feet. It replaces a 1,600-square-metre farmhouse that burned down in January.

Fire-resistant features include closed eaves to block embers, as well as piping for a fire protection system that homeowners can add, which covers the house with water and provides fire retardant when the flames get close.

Property records show Thomas James Homes purchased the property before it was destroyed. Last November it sold for $3.4 million.

The house was built as a model home – a kind of advertisement for other residents who wanted to rebuild. Mead said the company is building homes for 30 families in the Palisades and expects to build another 100 families next year. On his websitethe company claims it can complete a rebuild in 12 months.

A grand opening, opening the home to the community, is planned for December 6.

Rebuilding timelines vary by project and community. Approximately 340 projects have begun construction in the Palisades, according to the news release.

Some residents are still deciding whether to stay or build, while others have submitted plans and taken advantage of government initiatives to streamlining the process.

Times staff writers Hailey Branson-Potts and Doug Smith contributed to this report.