Journal Entry #8: It’s Official! Introducing The Foothill Catalog (phase 1 - coming soon)
In just over a week we’ll be approaching the 6 month mark post Eaton & Palisades fire, and the 6 month anniversary of The Foothill Catalog Foundation.
Amid the nonstop pace of this work, it hasn’t always been easy to pause and reflect. But looking back, it’s truly remarkable to see what we’ve built together with this community.
Over the past six months the team at The Foothill Catalog:
Formed a nonprofit organization from the ground up
Built a grassroots network around the idea of creating a 21st-century Sears Catalog for fire recovery
Launched a crowd-sourced concept design campaign with architects and designers from across Los Angeles and beyond
Partnered with LA County to pioneer a brand-new pathway for permitting single-family homes - the pre-approval process
Collaborated with Habitat for Humanity SGV to develop the first three Catalog home designs
Created a monthly lecture series, Altadena Revealed, in partnership with local organizations to celebrate and uplift community history
Designed and permitted the first-ever pre-approved single-family home in LA County history (!!!) — with more on the way as Phase 1 of the Catalog moves toward completion
And most importantly, we’ve met and walked alongside the incredible, resilient, and hopeful individuals that make Altadena what it is
Read more about Our Story. This has been - and continues to be - a collective effort. Thank you for being part of this journey.
And now, without further ado, we’re happy to introduce the first iteration of the dream we set in motion just six months ago: The Foothill Catalog (phase 1).
With designs contributed by architects from Altadena to the East Coast, this is just the beginning. These plans are now actively in development, on their way to becoming officially pre-approved by LA County - the first of many phases to come.
Upcoming Events:
Design Showcase: Sunday, 6/29 from 12-4pm at St. Bede the Venerable Church
The floor plans of each Phase 1 design will be uploaded to our website by 7/1. To get a first look, join us at a design showcase hosted by our friends at Neighbors of Altadena!
Altadena Revealed Lecture Series: “Outlaws of Altadena - The Criminal Prosecutions of Our Colorful Contrarians” - tomorrow Friday, 6/27 from 7pm-9pm at the Altadena Library.
This lecture will explore an essential layer of Altadena's rich and historic human diversity: its troublemakers.
That’s all for now …
More updates are on the way - including details on our intake process for those interested in moving forward with a Phase 1 design, as well as a preview of what’s to come in Phase 2.
For now, we’re simply filled with gratitude - for your support, your belief in this mission, and your presence on this journey. We’re honored to continue building this future together.
If you’d like to support the Catalog as we continue to grow, sharing our work with others or donating if you’re able - makes a meaningful difference.
Until next time,
The Foothill Catalog