Latest news with #TerryKilgore
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
California wildfire victims face uphill battle as corporations and investors swoop in
Six months after California's most devastating wildfire, a recovery is underway. Land is changing hands, developers are coming in, permits are being approved, homes are under construction. Yet, for many, the process is still moving slowly. "This process is going to take time, money and patience," said real estate agent Laura Alfano, who specializes in Malibu and the Pacific Palisades properties. "And that will lead to a combination of developers, investors and then families who have legacy wealth. And that's what we're seeing in terms of purchases. Not only smoke-damaged homes, but of the actual lots themselves." Los Angeles Police Hope To Reunite Firearm Owners With Guns After Devastating Palisades Fire Of the 123 lots sold in the Palisades since the fire, about half have been bought by corporations, the other 50% by individuals. Whereas northeast of L.A. in Altadena, many homes are being snapped up by investors. One company bought 16 properties, another 13. "I don't want an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit). I'd rather die," says Terry Kilgore, 70, who is living out of an RV on his Altadena lot, waiting for an insurance settlement. "What the hell, I don't like RVs. I don't want to live in one, but at this point in time, it's a godsend." Many homeowners now realize they were underinsured. They can't afford to pay off the old mortgage of the destroyed home, two years of rent in a tight market and have enough money left over for a rebuild. Read On The Fox News App In Altadena, each month, more vacant lots are coming on the market, depressing prices by as much as $100,000 on a $1 million lot. In the Palisades, it's the opposite. The number of properties coming on the market is going down, helping fire victims wanting to cash out. The average price is $2.2 million for a vacant lot. "Construction time, as I'm hearing, could be a year, year and a half, so I think you're going to see six months from now framing," said Larry Vein, head of Pali Strong, a citizen group formed after the fires. Mandy Moore Slams La County For 'Nonsensical' Red Tape Preventing The City's Rebuild After Fires "The trauma has been really tough. A lot of people are still really confused about it. They don't know what to do. A lot of people are moving forward with their plans. A lot a people are just kind of on hold," said contractor Michael Shirley. Right now, about 50 homes are under construction in the Palisades. More are in the pipeline. Of roughly 900 permit applications submitted to the city and county of Los Angeles officials approved 274 to begin construction. Between the two, about 13,000 homes were destroyed. Both entities say they're approving permits in under 2 months – down from 8 to 18 months before the fires. Yet on more complicates sites and larger homes, experts say homeowners are looking at a year or more to get approval. To speed up the rebuilding process, Governor Newson extended executive orders to suspend the California Coastal Act as the primary agent in granting permits. This suspension lasts through at least Oct. 1. With the order still in place, homeowners looking to rebuild can start construction with up to 10% increase in size. However, for those looking to expand beyond 10%, they face a $11,579 base fee and a 12-24 month process. Southern California Community Members Return For First Time To Site Where Church Burned Down Ahead Of Easter Ross Greenberg lost his home in the Palisades fire. And although his rebuilding permits were approved in early June, Los Angeles County still isn't letting him break ground. "I've paid over $12,000 in my permit fees right now just to get my process moving," Greenberg said. Besides battling with regulations, many residents are more focused on their fight with insurance companies. Before the fires spread across southern California, State Farm dropped 1,600 policies in the Palisades last July. The insurance company faces lawsuits from homeowners who claim they were left "grossly underinsured." With poor support by insurance providers, many residents solely rely on the California FAIR Plan, which may barely cover the cost of foundational and septic tank development in places like Malibu, which lost 600 homes in the fire, including 300 along the beach. "You're going to spend two to three million dollars on just your foundation, your septic system and your seawall," said Don Schmitz, president and principal planner of real estate consulting company Schmitz & Associates. "And that's before you put up the very first stick to build the actual house."Original article source: California wildfire victims face uphill battle as corporations and investors swoop in
Fox News
3 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
California wildfire victims face uphill battle as corporations and investors swoop in
Six months after California's most devastating wildfire, a recovery is underway. Land is changing hands, developers are coming in, permits are being approved, homes are under construction. Yet, for many, the process is still moving slowly. "This process is going to take time, money and patience," said real estate agent Laura Alfano, who specializes in Malibu and the Pacific Palisades properties. "And that will lead to a combination of developers, investors and then families who have legacy wealth. And that's what we're seeing in terms of purchases. Not only smoke-damaged homes, but of the actual lots themselves." Of the 123 lots sold in the Palisades since the fire, about half have been bought by corporations, the other 50% by individuals. Whereas northeast of L.A. in Altadena, many homes are being snapped up by investors. One company bought 16 properties, another 13. "I don't want an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit). I'd rather die," says Terry Kilgore, 70, who is living out of an RV on his Altadena lot, waiting for an insurance settlement. "What the hell, I don't like RVs. I don't want to live in one, but at this point in time, it's a godsend." Many homeowners now realize they were underinsured. They can't afford to pay off the old mortgage of the destroyed home, two years of rent in a tight market and have enough money left over for a rebuild. In Altadena, each month, more vacant lots are coming on the market, depressing prices by as much as $100,000 on a $1 million lot. In the Palisades, it's the opposite. The number of properties coming on the market is going down, helping fire victims wanting to cash out. The average price is $2.2 million for a vacant lot. "Construction time, as I'm hearing, could be a year, year and a half, so I think you're going to see six months from now framing," said Larry Vein, head of Pali Strong, a citizen group formed after the fires. "The trauma has been really tough. A lot of people are still really confused about it. They don't know what to do. A lot of people are moving forward with their plans. A lot a people are just kind of on hold," said contractor Michael Shirley. Right now, about 50 homes are under construction in the Palisades. More are in the pipeline. Of roughly 900 permit applications submitted to the city and county of Los Angeles officials approved 274 to begin construction. Between the two, about 13,000 homes were destroyed. Both entities say they're approving permits in under 2 months – down from 8 to 18 months before the fires. Yet on more complicates sites and larger homes, experts say homeowners are looking at a year or more to get approval. To speed up the rebuilding process, Governor Newson extended executive orders to suspend the California Coastal Act as the primary agent in granting permits. This suspension lasts through at least Oct. 1. With the order still in place, homeowners looking to rebuild can start construction with up to 10% increase in size. However, for those looking to expand beyond 10%, they face a $11,579 base fee and a 12-24 month process. Ross Greenberg lost his home in the Palisades fire. And although his rebuilding permits were approved in early June, Los Angeles County still isn't letting him break ground. "I've paid over $12,000 in my permit fees right now just to get my process moving," Greenberg said. Besides battling with regulations, many residents are more focused on their fight with insurance companies. Before the fires spread across southern California, State Farm dropped 1,600 policies in the Palisades last July. The insurance company faces lawsuits from homeowners who claim they were left "grossly underinsured." With poor support by insurance providers, many residents solely rely on the California FAIR Plan, which may barely cover the cost of foundational and septic tank development in places like Malibu, which lost 600 homes in the fire, including 300 along the beach. "You're going to spend two to three million dollars on just your foundation, your septic system and your seawall," said Don Schmitz, president and principal planner of real estate consulting company Schmitz & Associates. "And that's before you put up the very first stick to build the actual house."
NDTV
04-07-2025
- General
- NDTV
6 Months After LA Wildfires, Recreational Vehicles Is One Way Victims Are Coping
Altadena: Terry Kilgore lives alone in his Altadena neighborhood in California, sleeping in a recreational vehicle and surrounded by empty lots that were once the site of family homes. In January, those homes were burned to the ground. Six months after the wildfires that devastated the eastern and western flanks of Los Angeles, Kilgore's RV solution is one way victims are coping as the arduous rebuilding effort goes on. "You would never know it but it was pretty here. It's never going to be pretty like it was," said Kilgore, 70, a rock 'n' roll guitarist and lifelong Altadena resident. "The place I grew up in is gone forever. It's a memory." The fires broke out on January 7, when dry desert winds whipped over mountain passes with hurricane force, following eight months without rain. The Eaton Fire, in Los Angeles County just east of the city, devastated the community of Altadena, while the Palisades Fire leveled much of the coastal Pacific Palisades district. The fires killed 22 people, destroyed nearly 12,000 homes and caused as much as $53.8 billion in property damage, according to a report by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation. While many homeowners complain about delays, L.A. city and county officials say rebuilding progress has exceeded initial expectations. About 75% of the 4,398 residential lots destroyed or severely damaged in the city of Los Angeles have been cleared of debris and are certified for rebuilding, according to a spokesperson for Mayor Karen Bass. In Altadena, in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, there are still a few burnt-out and boarded-up businesses. Some are strewn with rubble. But most of the residential lots are cleared and free of char. One source of Altadena's charm - its proximity to nature - also made it vulnerable to wildfire. Black and Latino families have lived in Altadena for generations and the suburb is also popular with younger artists and engineers working at the nearby NASA rocket lab who were attracted by the small-town vibe and spectacular mountain views. Now the town is dotted with signs of "Altadena is not for sale," reflecting concerns that speculators and developers may turn what had been rows of neat bungalows into gaudy cash cows. Kilgore's RV is parked within a sea of razed lots and the occasional home that is still standing but vacant due to smoke damage. Many homeowners are crashing with friends and family, or renting during the rebuild, but others, like Kilgore, have chosen to live on their properties in RVs. Jose Luis Martinez, 71, a retired electrician born in El Salvador, had been in his home 38 years when it burned down. Uninsured like Kilgore, and living on Social Security, he has no long-term plan but decided to hold onto the property and camp in an RV. Others received insurance payments. Retired pastor Edwin Isaacs, 64, paid off his mortgage and is happy to live on his property condition-free in an RV, while Marialyce Pedersen has parked a trailer on her property while she rebuilds. "I was 61 years old and ready to retire and enjoy my pool and my life. I love that my land is still here," she said. "Here it feels familiar, like the right place for my body to be." Kilgore, who once played with former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth, says he lost some of his best guitars in the fire, including a 1953 Fender Telecaster and a 1904 Parlor, along with an estimated $120,000 in equipment from his home studio. He said he saved five guitars that he grabbed on his way out the door to evacuate. He once lived in a comfortable home with a high ceiling and tree-filled yard. Now he sweats inside a Bounder RV and washes and shaves with cold hose water in an outdoor basin. His main goal, he said, is to re-record all his original music that was lost in the fire. "That's probably what's left for me to do," Kilgore said. "I could die after that, for all I care. I've seen enough of this monkey show, I'm telling you." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Japan Times
04-07-2025
- General
- Japan Times
Six months after LA wildfires, some adjust to new life in RVs
Terry Kilgore lives alone in his Altadena neighborhood in California, sleeping in a recreational vehicle and surrounded by empty lots that were once the site of family homes. In January, those homes were burned to the ground. Six months after the wildfires that devastated the eastern and western flanks of Los Angeles, Kilgore's RV solution is one way victims are coping as the arduous rebuilding effort goes on. "You would never know it but it was pretty here. It's never going to be pretty like it was," said Kilgore, 70, a rock 'n' roll guitarist and lifelong Altadena resident. "The place I grew up in is gone forever. It's a memory." The fires broke out on January 7, when dry desert winds whipped over mountain passes with hurricane force, following eight months without rain. The Eaton Fire, in Los Angeles County just east of the city, devastated the community of Altadena, while the Palisades Fire leveled much of the coastal Pacific Palisades district. The fires killed 22 people, destroyed nearly 12,000 homes and caused as much as $53.8 billion in property damage, according to a report by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation. A drone view shows the RV where Terry Kilgore now lives after losing his home to the Eaton Fire in January 2025, amid properties cleared of fire debris in Altadena, California, on June 6. | REUTERS While many homeowners complain about delays, L.A. city and county officials say rebuilding progress has exceeded initial expectations. About 75% of the 4,398 residential lots destroyed or severely damaged in the city of Los Angeles have been cleared of debris and are certified for rebuilding, according to a spokesperson for Mayor Karen Bass. In Altadena, in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, there are still a few burnt-out and boarded-up businesses. Some are strewn with rubble. But most of the residential lots are cleared and free of char. One source of Altadena's charm — its proximity to nature — also made it vulnerable to wildfire. Black and Latino families have lived in Altadena for generations and the suburb is also popular with younger artists and engineers working at the nearby NASA rocket lab who were attracted by the small-town vibe and spectacular mountain views. Now the town is dotted with signs of "Altadena is not for sale," reflecting concerns that speculators and developers may turn what had been rows of neat bungalows into gaudy cash cows. Kilgore's RV is parked within a sea of razed lots and the occasional home that is still standing but vacant due to smoke damage. Many homeowners are crashing with friends and family, or renting during the rebuild, but others, like Kilgore, have chosen to live on their properties in RVs. Jose Luis Martinez, 71, a retired electrician born in El Salvador, had been in his home 38 years when it burned down. Uninsured like Kilgore, and living on Social Security, he has no long-term plan but decided to hold onto the property and camp in an RV. The wind whips embers while a firefighter battles a blaze in the Angeles National Forest during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on Jan. 9. | REUTERS Others received insurance payments. Retired pastor Edwin Isaacs, 64, paid off his mortgage and is happy to live on his property condition-free in an RV, while Marialyce Pedersen has parked a trailer on her property while she rebuilds. "I was 61 years old and ready to retire and enjoy my pool and my life. I love that my land is still here," she said. "Here it feels familiar, like the right place for my body to be." Kilgore, who once played with former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth, says he lost some of his best guitars in the fire, including a 1953 Fender Telecaster and a 1904 Parlor, along with an estimated $120,000 in equipment from his home studio. He said he saved five guitars that he grabbed on his way out the door to evacuate. He once lived in a comfortable home with a high ceiling and tree-filled yard. Now he sweats inside a Bounder RV and washes and shaves with cold hose water in an outdoor basin. His main goal, he said, is to re-record all his original music that was lost in the fire. "That's probably what's left for me to do," Kilgore said. "I could die after that, for all I care. I've seen enough of this monkey show, I'm telling you."
TimesLIVE
03-07-2025
- General
- TimesLIVE
Six months after LA wildfires, some adjust to new life in vehicles
Terry Kilgore lives alone in his Altadena neighbourhood in California, sleeping in a recreational vehicle and surrounded by empty lots that were once the site of family homes. In January, those homes were burnt to the ground. Six months after the wildfires that devastated the eastern and western flanks of Los Angeles, Kilgore's RV solution is one way victims are coping as the arduous rebuilding effort goes on. 'You would never know it but it was pretty here. It's never going to be pretty like it was,' said Kilgore, 70, a rock 'n' roll guitarist and lifelong Altadena resident. 'The place I grew up in is gone forever. It's a memory.' The fires broke out on January 7, when dry desert winds whipped over mountain passes with hurricane force, after eight months without rain. The Eaton Fire, in Los Angeles County just east of the city, devastated the community of Altadena, while the Palisades Fire levelled much of the coastal Pacific Palisades district. The fires killed 22 people, destroyed nearly 12,000 homes and caused as much as $53.8bn in property damage, according to a report by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation. While many homeowners complain about delays, city and county officials say rebuilding progress has exceeded initial expectations. About 75% of the 4,398 residential lots destroyed or severely damaged in the city of Los Angeles have been cleared of debris and are certified for rebuilding, according to a spokesperson for mayor Karen Bass. In Altadena, in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, there are still a few burnt-out and boarded-up businesses. Some are strewn with rubble. But most of the residential lots are cleared and free of char. One source of Altadena's charm — its proximity to nature — also made it vulnerable to wildfire. Black and Latino families have lived in Altadena for generations and the suburb is also popular with younger artists and engineers working at the nearby NASA rocket lab who were attracted by the small-town vibe and spectacular mountain views. Now the town is dotted with signs of 'Altadena is not for sale', reflecting concerns that speculators and developers may turn what had been rows of neat bungalows into gaudy cash cows. Kilgore's RV is parked within a sea of razed lots and the occasional home that is still standing but vacant due to smoke damage. Many homeowners are crashing with friends and family, or renting during the rebuild, but others, like Kilgore, have chosen to live on their properties in RVs. Jose Luis Martinez, 71, a retired electrician born in El Salvador, had been in his home for 38 years when it burnt down. Uninsured like Kilgore, and living on Social Security, he has no long-term plan but decided to hold onto the property and camp in an RV. Others received insurance payments. Retired pastor Edwin Isaacs, 64, paid off his mortgage and is happy to live on his property condition-free in an RV, while Marialyce Pedersen has parked a trailer on her property while she rebuilds. 'I was 61 years old and ready to retire and enjoy my pool and my life. I love that my land is still here,' she said. 'Here it feels familiar, like the right place for my body to be.' Kilgore, who once played with former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth, says he lost some of his best guitars in the fire, including a 1953 Fender Telecaster and a 1904 Parlor, along with an estimated $120,000 in equipment from his home studio. He said he saved five guitars that he grabbed on his way out the door to evacuate. He once lived in a comfortable home with a high ceiling and tree-filled yard. Now he sweats inside a Bounder RV and washes and shaves with cold hose water in an outdoor basin. His main goal, he said, is to re-record all his original music that was lost in the fire. 'That's probably what's left for me to do,' Kilgore said. 'I could die after that, for all I care. I've seen enough of this monkey show, I'm telling you.'
