Journal Entry #24 - Wall Raising
A couple weeks ago, we gathered at the Foothill Catalog demonstration homes for a wall raising event alongside community partners, homeowners, and elected officials, including Supervisor Kathryn Barger. It was an afternoon filled with optimism, collaboration, and a shared commitment to rebuilding Altadena.
But the most important voices that day belonged to the homeowners.
Lucyna and Denise, both rebuilding Foothill Catalog homes (and coincidentally both choosing La Mariposa), joined us to share a few words. Lucyna spoke about how Altadena made her feel at home for the first time since leaving her native Poland. Denise reflected on her determination to remain in Altadena - her home of nearly 30 years - despite voices who insisted that rebuilding would be too difficult.
We’re grateful to know them both and appreciate the trust they’ve placed in TFCF as they move closer to returning home.
The next day, we hosted the first session of our Live Rebuilding Series, presented in partnership with the Callahan Family Foundation and Williams Rebuild.
Families joined us on-site to explore site planning, foundations, and framing while touring two homes and two ADUs - the Lexington, Elizabeth, Opa, and Lily - at various stages of construction.
One of the goals of this series is to make the rebuilding process more transparent and accessible by providing real-time insight into how homes come together.
A special thank you to our project sponsors -Autodesk, Symetri, Architectural Digest, and James Hardie - whose support helps keep these monthly sessions free and accessible to all.
Registration for Session 2 Is Now Open!
Join us on Saturday, June 20th
Session 2: What's Behind the Walls, where we'll cover:
Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems
Title 24 requirements
Resilient design and construction strategies
Upcoming Events
We're excited to announce the next installment of Altadena Revealed, featuring author Lynell George and Octavia's Bookshelf founder Nikki High.
Together, they'll discuss writer, visionary, and former Altadena resident Octavia E. Butler's creative practice of worldbuilding and the enduring inspiration of her life and work.
We hope you'll join us on Friday, June 26th at the Eaton Fire Collaboratory!
Other upcoming events this month:
Regional Restoration Expo Saturday, June 13, 2026 | 10 AM–5 PM The Blinn House 160 Oakland Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101
Palisades Senior Luncheon Friday, June 19, 2026 | 12 PM–2 PM 15239 La Cruz Dr., Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
Pali-Altadena Collectiveis an initiative founded by Palisades resident and high school student Luca Dal Bello. Its inaugural exhibition, Rebuilding Memory: The Dioramas of Palisades features meticulously detailed miniature dioramas of iconic coastal landmarks, like Moonshadows Restaurant, the Palisadian-Post, and the Palisades Public Library. Just as powerful, however, are the works that capture the collective memory held within everyday places and experiences - such as the piece titled Tree Swing, featured below.
Tree Swing “We had an evergreen pear tree and every January it would bloom with the most beautiful white flowers. I installed a swing on the biggest branch and both of my kids got to swing from it. - Amber Brockman”
This thoughtful exhibition serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving the memories, stories, and sense of place that make a community home. Rebuilding Memory: The Dioramas of Palisades, is currently on view at EMECO House in Venice from May 31–June 20, 2026.
Finally…
A few quick stats to close: there are currently 22 Foothill Catalog homes under construction across Altadena & Pasadena, and over 80 homes contracted. Our currently Catalog includes over 50 design options pre-approved in LA County. We plan to share many more updates from the field and on upcoming designs over the coming months!
Our next journal will focus more on the design process itself, including in-progress work for the Pacific Palisades. If there are any specific questions you’d like us to address feel free to drop us a note.
Every step forward is a shared one, and we’re grateful to continue walking this path with you.
Until Next Time,
The Foothill Catalog