Altadena Residents Invited to Help Reimagine Public Spaces After Eaton Fire
As Altadena begins to recover from the devastation of the Eaton Fire, a new initiative is calling on residents to help reimagine and rebuild the community’s public spaces, not just as they were, but possibly better than before.
By News Desk
Spearheaded by Altadena Steadfast, a community design initiative sponsored by Steadfast LA, the effort seeks to amplify local voices in shaping a more resilient, accessible, and vibrant future for Altadena’s public infrastructure. The project is led by a working group of longtime community members, including Michele Zack, author of Altadena: Between Wilderness and City, Mark Goldschmidt, and Hans Allhoff, among others. All three have deep roots in Altadena and lost their homes in the fire.
“We want to talk about more than recovery of our private spaces, which has received most of the effort so far,” says Zack. “We want to help inspire the community to look with new eyes about what we want from our commercial zones, parks, and public corridors in Altadena. Staff from County Regional Planning and Public Works will be there to help people understand what has become possible under the new WSGVAP.”
To launch the initiative, an Open House will be held on October 4, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Loma Alta Park Gym. Residents are invited to share ideas and feedback. The event will include participation from the SWA urban design group, along with Los Angeles County Regional Planning and Public Works.
Following the Open House, SWA will lead a series of community workshops to transform public input into a formal design brief and actionable proposals. These will be presented to key local stakeholders, including the Community Coalition for Altadena Recovery (CCAR), the Supervisor’s Office, and the Altadena Recovery and Rebuild Corporation (ARRC).
While organizers acknowledge that personal rebuilding remains a priority for many residents, they emphasize the importance of a shared vision. “We appreciate Altadenans have taken part in planning and visioning discussions before, most recently for the 2024 West San Gabriel Valley Area Plan. That is the zoning plan now in force in Altadena,” Zack noted. “Things changed with the fire; we are obviously dealing with a new reality. But WSGAVP is so new people haven’t had a chance to see how it changed what is possible, and also what we as a community will now be able to accomplish if we can reach consensus on some guidelines for our shared public and commercial spaces.”
Steadfast LA, a nonprofit coalition of industry leaders, is facilitating the initiative to ensure public space designs reflect both county priorities and grassroots input from Altadena residents, businesses, and property owners.
As the community continues to heal, the invitation is clear: help shape a more walkable, connected, and vibrant Altadena, one that honors the past while looking toward the future.
Open House October 4 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm Location Loma Alta Park Gym 3330 N Lincoln Ave Altadena, CA 91001
Leave a Reply