Months after fire, Malibu is suffering an identity crisis

Locals leave. Home values decline. Rebuilding might take more than a decade.

- By Jack Flemming

Wood frames are rising from the ashes of burned-out lots in Pacific Palisades, signaling the start of a new era for the fire-torn community. But down the road in Malibu, the scene is bleak.

Cars wind through a gauntlet of traffic cones and caution tape. Sweeping ocean views are sullied by hollow shells of graffiti-tagged homes and miles of chain-link fencing.

Nearly a year after the Palisades fire, one of Southern California’s most iconic communities is frozen in place.

In Altadena and Pacific Palisades, the two communities hit hardest by the January fires, there are rebuilding permits aplenty. The city of L.A., which is handling most permits in the Palisades, has issued 801 — around 43% of the total applications received, according to data from the state's rebuilding dashboard. L.A. County, which is handling most permits in Altadena, has issued 577 — around 26% of the total applications received.

So far, Malibu has issued four — about 2% of the total applications received.

"It’s depressing," said Abe Roy, a Malibu resident and professional builder.

In May, Roy was appointed as the city’s first rebuild ambassador, a volunteer role created to find solutions to administrative obstacles and speed up the rebuild. He publicly resigned last month, citing frustrations with the slow permitting process.

A VIEW of cleared lots and sparse construction after the Palisades fire in the Sunset Mesa neighborhood of eastern Malibu on Oct. 16.

(ALLEN J. SCHABEN Los Angeles Times)

“If this current pace continues, rebuilding will take way longer than a decade,” he said.