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Q&A: Canyon Construction Alliance

By
the Palisadian-Post
-
Bob Alderman
Photos courtesy of Canyon Construction Alliance

The Palisadian-Post spoke with Bob Alderman of Canyon Construction Alliance—a “full-service, in-house construction firm” that approaches each project with “empathy and purpose.”

Tell us a bit about your background—what led you to where you are today?

I’ve been a general contractor for over 35 years, with most of that time spent working in high-end residential construction. Since 1992, my team and I have served some of the most respected communities in Southern California, earning the trust of high-profile clients through referrals and reputation alone. I started negotiating insurance claims in 1994, and over time that became a key part of what we offer, especially after wildfires and other disasters.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working on unique, one-of-a-kind projects that challenged us creatively and technically. That’s where my passion for design and creating meaningful spaces really took hold. It has always been about the project, doing the job right, treating people fairly and taking pride in the finished product.

Every person on our team shares that mindset. We care about the work, the experience and the people we serve. Especially when it comes to fire rebuilds, we approach each project with empathy and purpose. Our role is not just to rebuild structures, but to help restore peace of mind, navigate complex claims and deliver honest solutions during a difficult time.

What service do you provide?

We are a full-service, in-house construction firm offering everything needed to take a project from concept to completion. Our services include architectural design, civil and structural engineering, professional permit expediting, remediation, licensed insurance adjusting, demolition and cleanup, and all phases of construction across every trade.

We have a deep understanding of fire rebuilds and what it takes to navigate that process successfully. With decades of experience working with local government agencies, we know how to move projects forward efficiently and get permits expedited without cutting corners.

What sets your business apart from others in your industry?

What truly sets us apart is that we are a full-service, in-house operation. By keeping everything under one roof, from design and engineering to insurance adjustment, permitting, and construction, we are able to move efficiently and keep projects on schedule. This structure also allows us to control costs and eliminate the layers of markup that often come with hiring multiple subcontractors under separate contracts.

At Canyon Construction Alliance, everything falls under one transparent agreement. There are no hidden fees or added percentages on materials. We supply materials at our cost and provide every client with a clear, detailed scope of work and pricing from the start.

We also proactively manage delays by ordering finishes and long-lead items well in advance. We offer secure storage for those materials so they are ready when we need them, minimizing downtime and keeping the build on track.

It is a streamlined, honest approach that saves time, reduces costs and gives our clients peace of mind throughout the entire process.

What is the most rewarding part of the work you do?

The most rewarding part of this work is helping people through the toughest moments of their lives. Whether it is rebuilding after a fire or facing something unexpected, it is not the reason that matters most, it is the result. If we can step in, take control of the chaos and make a real difference in someone’s journey, that is the payoff.

As someone who has spent years advocating for late-stage cancer patients, I have learned to lead from a place of calm, purpose and grit. That experience shaped how I show up for my clients, my team and my company. We solve problems, rebuild what matters and do it with precision, pride and zero excuses.

We exist to bring lives back together, restore peace of mind, and do it with grace, humility and strength.

What has been your most memorable or meaningful project and why?

There are two that come to mind for very different reasons.

One day I got a call from an elderly woman who was having trouble with her insurance claim after a pipe burst caused significant water damage. I could hear the stress in her voice. When she told me what the insurance company was offering, it didn’t sit right. She gave me her address, and when I arrived, it turned out to be a trailer park. It was a nice one, but not the kind of place I usually work.

Still, I looked at the damage and saw a small bathroom that had clearly been hit harder than anyone was acknowledging. She was in her 80s, a widow and just trying to get by. So I fixed it myself. I took care of everything while I fought to get her claim properly settled. She ended up getting fully reimbursed, and even had a little extra left over. Her family sent my family Christmas cards for years after she passed. That one stuck with me.

On the other end of the spectrum, I spent eight years converting the Broad Art Museum in Venice into a private residence for a longtime client. It’s a five-story building from 1929, originally purchased by Eli Broad, and it became a constantly evolving project that pushed every boundary of design, planning and construction. It was a $30 million building, rich with history and complexity, and one of the most creatively rewarding jobs I’ve ever taken on.

And then there’s everything in between. Because at the end of the day, the size of the project doesn’t matter. What matters is how much it means to the people we’re doing it for.

What advice would you give to someone who has just experienced a loss and is starting to rebuild?

First, get your insurance claim professionally adjusted. Too many people leave money on the table by accepting the initial offer. Also, if you plan to rebuild what you had on the same footprint, look into a streamlined building permit process. It can save you serious time and frustration.

If possible, leave the foundation in place until it can be fully evaluated. Especially on hillside properties, keeping even part of the foundation intact can save thousands in demolition and future construction costs. It can also dramatically shorten your rebuild timeline. With so many homeowners underinsured right now, every dollar matters.

If your team doesn’t include an expediter, hire one. You need someone who knows the permit process inside and out, and can be your advocate every step of the way.

And finally, hire local. You’re going to see contractors from all over the map showing up, but many won’t understand the land, the permitting climate or the lifestyle this community was built around. Malibu and the Palisades may be spread out, but they are tight-knit in spirit. You want people who understand that and are part of the community.

How can people contact you or learn more about your services?

I can be reached directly at 818-635-9319 or builtbybob21@gmail.com. Jenny Hall Aspell can be reached at 310-487-5397. I’m always happy to answer questions, offer guidance or help you take the next step in your rebuild or renovation.

John Bernard ‘Jack’ Holton

By
the Palisadian-Post
-

John Bernard “Jack” Holton, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully on June 14. He was 89 years old.

Jack was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to a family that stressed scholarship and community. But Jack focused his spare time on sports, making the varsity basketball squad and captaining the golf team.

To pay for college, Jack joined the Navy ROTC program at Marquette University, beginning an 11-year service to his country as a Navy officer and reservist. The Navy brought him to San Diego, where a love for California inspired Jack to continue his education at Stanford University.

It was at Stanford where he met future wife, Lorraine Fraga, when he invited members of several women’s colleges to attend a square dance he organized at the local Newman Center. Determined to raise a family, Jack and Lorraine were married in 1963, and Jack began a career working with some of the earliest computers at IBM.

But following a near fatal auto-accident, Jack reevaluated his career goals and moved his young family, which now included boys Michael and Steven, to study for a PhD at Northwestern University.

Still determined to be in California, Jack secured a position as a professor at USC and settled his family in nearby Pacific Palisades, where he never missed a game or school play cheering for his children, and actively supported his wife’s rewarding career in real estate sales and management.

Eager to apply his study of business to entrepreneurship, in 1990 Jack started Tamis Systems, a software company selling solutions for schools and hospitals.  Jack would often amaze his family with the growing client list for the startup company.

But in the 2000s Jack stepped back from the company, and eager to play more golf, Jack and Lorraine selected a lot with an amazing view in Palm Desert. For the next 20 years they enjoyed competing in golf tournaments, singing in local choirs and many visits from cherished family and friends.

Jack’s optimism, dear heart and joy of life will be greatly missed by all who loved him. He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years Lorraine, treasured sons Michael and Steven, and adored grandchildren Mark, Christopher and Julia.

The Holton family is grateful for the kind condolences commemorating Jack’s life. We thank all the wonderful caregivers who helped Jack in his final years. You are forever in our hearts.

Christopher Murphy

By
the Palisadian-Post
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Christopher Murphy of Pacific Palisades passed away in his sleep from cardiac arrest on May 19 in San Diego at the age of 51. He is survived by his mother, Mary Fran, his father, Bob, and his sister, Meghan Murphy Rowan.

Christopher was larger than life in every respect. He attended Methodist Preschool and Corpus Christi where he was student body president. At an early age he established himself as the loudest singer and the tallest eighth-grade graduate at 5’10”.

Christopher graduated from Crossroads High School in 1992 in Santa Monica where he had a lead role in the school musical as well as other drams events. He then went on to Sonoma State where he discovered he loved to write poetry and found his love for the blues, especially the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Christopher suffered a series of physical setbacks during his young life, including a heart attack, but they never dimmed his smile.

Everyone who met him will likely remember him as a loving and gentle soul who left us with a bounty of memories and words of wisdom. He would often say, “Don’t judge; everyone has a story.”

We know he had no time to say goodbye, but if he had the chance, he would have reassured us that everything would be alright. Heaven always has a place for 6’5”, empathetic, non-judgmental, talented and caring people. By now he is certainly singing with the angels.

We miss him.

Change of Course

By
Steve Galluzzo
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Runners crowd Ocean Front Walk to start the Will Rogers 5K on Fourth of July morning at Venice Beach. Nearly 1,100 people signed up despite the annual race not being held in Pacific Palisades.
Photos by Steve Galluzzo

Henry Didden and Kayla Clayton Celebrate the Fourth of July by Winning the Will Rogers 5K in Venice

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

I n his 2002 novel “ I Am the Messenger” Australian author Markus Zusak famously wrote: “It’s not the place, I think. It’s the people.”

Last Friday, the annual Palisades Will Rogers Run did not take place at its usual location but that did not deter more than one thousand runners from waking up early, hopping in their cars and driving seven miles to Venice Beach to keep a proud 48-year holiday tradition alive.

When the Palisades Fire laid waste to much of the Huntington and Riviera neighborhoods in January, race organizers Thomas Hathaway, James Klein and their talented team did not give up hope of hosting the town’s annual Fourth of July race. It got canceled for two years during COVID and rather than deprive the community of its biggest celebration of the year again they explored the feasibility of staging the event at an alternate site and using the proceeds to rebuild the Palisades Recreation Center (where the race starts and ends) and the Village. They mapped out a comparable course, applied for permits and proved the adage  “where there’s a will, there’s a way.”       

Longtime Palisadians Jimmy Dunne and Sam Lagana reprised their roles as race announcers and spouted race history and trivia. “You’d better be fast if you’re doing two laps,” Lagana joked, reminding participants that there was only a 5K.

While runners congregated at the starting line on Ocean Front Walk, City Councilwoman Traci Park had a message for her constituents. “I know things feel a little different,” she said. “But continue sticking together and we’ll fully recover.”

A moment of silence was observed for first responders and those who losy their lives in the Fire, then four members of the Blue Eagles Honor Guard presented the colors and Mia Ruhman, back by popular demand, sang a flawless rendition of the national anthem in her soprano voice. The 22-year-old, who just graduated from UCLA, grew up on Muskingum Avenue and attended Pali Elementary and Palisades High. She wrote and stars in a pop opera titled “Nannerl” about the life of Mozart’s older sister, which premiered June 5 in Santa Monica. Ruhman sang the Star-Spangled Banner at last year’s Will Rogers Run but her encore performance was even better.  

Then, the field of 1,094 registered runners was sent on its way. Fifteen and a half minutes later, Henry Didden made the final turn onto Windward Avenue from Pacific and sprinted the last 50 yards to the finish.

It was the third Will Rogers win in a row for the 21-year-old from Woodland Hills, who won the 10K the previous two years.

This victory, though, was extra special. He dedicated the race to his grandfather who just passed away and his grandmother just moved back into her home in the Highlands.

“I registered at the last minute… I run this every year to support the Palisades,” Didden said. “My uncle and my dad hosed eveyrthing down and saved the house. All of their neighbors’ houses burned.”

Didden is used to the grueling Will Rogers Park switchbacks and found the flat street course in Venice much easier. The route was 3.2 miles (one-tenth of a mile longer than a 5K, yet even with the added distance  he clocked 15:39—the fastest winning time since 2009 when Ravi Amarawansa clocked  15:13. The 5K standard of 14:10 was set in 2003 by Peter Gilmore, a 1995 Pali High  graduate who went on to star at UC Berkeley and won his hometown race a record eight times.

“I didn’t miss the hill up to the polo field, that’s tough,” Didden confessed. “I’m just happy to be out here. I’m training at altitude in Mammoth Lakes.”

Didden will be entering his senior year at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, where he ran a personal-best 29:34 for the 10K at a home meet in April. He won the Palisades Will Rogers 10K in 34:04 in 2023 and repeated in 32:46 last July. He was first in his age group in 2019 and 2022.

Coming in second, 11 seconds behind Didden, was 30-year-old Michael Mrgudic of Modesto and Loyola High junior Ernesto Jalomo was third in 16:03.

Mitchell Majors, who was third overall in the Will Rogers 10K last year (36:07)shortly after graduating from Paul Revere Middle School, took sixth last Friday in 16:33, good enough to win his age group.    The 15-year-old just finished his freshman year at Viewpoint, where he PR’d in 15:30.8 for three miles in November at the Gold Coast League cross country finals.

Thanks to Zach Cohen (fourth in 16:11), Andrew Razo seventh in 16:41) and  Owen Lewicky (eighth in 16:47), Pali High won the Dick Lemen Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the school with the lowest team score. Two more Dolphins, Theo Mayeda and Ethan Funk rounded out the top 10 (both in 16:55) and 48-year-old Brian Duff, who won the Palisades Will Rogers 5K in 2008 and the inaugural Palisades Lutheran 5K in 2021, was 13th overall and first in the men’s 45-49 category in 17:10.

A pair of familiar faces at the finish line belonged to Larry Meyer and Tonny Okello.

Meyer has run the event every year but one since it debuted in 1978, and he always wears the t-shirt from the inaugural race. He finished in 56:41 this time.

“My wife knows to hand wash as it only comes out once a year,” said the 78-year-old from Glendale, who ran the 10K for the first 40 years before switching to the 5K.  “In fact, this shirt is 14 days older than my daughter Serena, who ran the Great Wall of China Marathon with me 20 years ago.”

Okello decided to run three days earlier and why not? The 41-year old Ugandan now lives in Mar Vista and runs to Venice and back all the time. He won the Palisades Will Rogers 10K a record five times in a row from 2014-18.   

“[Santa Monica Track Club coach] Joe Douglas told me about it and I thought why not?” Okello said. “I still run but not competitively. In fact, the last race I ran was the Palisades 5K last July 4. I wanted to break 20 minutes today and I did.”

Okello finished 28th overall and second in his age group in 18:58 after coming in 20th in 18:39 on the Palisades 5K course in both 2023 and 2024.

The temperature was ideal (73 degrees) and despite the different location and the absence of the 10K (one of the most popular in California), the race was well attended. Last year it drew 2,470 runners (1,828 in the 5K and 642 in the 10K)—the biggest field since the event resumed in 2022 following a two-year hiatus.

Winning the women’s race and placing 24th overall in 18:43 was Kayla Clayton, a 25-year-old from Salinas who ran alongside her boyfriend Asher Low.

“We met right after the fires,” said Clayton, a former track and cross country runner at Southern Oregon. “I’m in graduate school in Monterey and we made the trip down last night. I mostly run marathons. We were just trying to run under 19 [minutes].”

Low grew up in the Alphabet Streets and went to Pali Elementary, Paul Revere and spent one year at Pali High before graduating from Harvard-Westlake. He went to the University of Wisconsin, then grad school at Pepperdine, where he was the public address announcer.

“I took Sam [Lagana’s] job,” he joked. “If the Rams position opens up tell him to give me a call.”

Low was set to transfer up north when tragedy struck in January, but the twist of fate had a happy ending.

“I was in Santa Monica and was set to relocate in February but my lease was up in December, so I moved back in with my parents temporarily and that’s when the fire came,” he recalled. “We lost our home on Fiske that my dad bought in 1992. When I was born I was brought home from the hospital to that house. Had it happened a few weeks earlier or a few weeks later  I wouldn’t have lost any of my stuff.”

Low, a project manager in hotel management, followed through on his plan anyway.

“I met Kayla at a Monday night running club the second week I moved there,” he said. “Now we’re dating.”    

Right behind Clayton was Phoebe Benun, last year’s 5K champion, who graduated from Santa Monica High last month and will continue her track career at Yale.

“I miss the hills in the Palisades, they make the the course more interesting but I liked being by the ocean and starting early,” said Benun, who promptly left to watch the Santa Monica Parade and then the fireworks show at the LA Galaxy game. “I was just running for fun and trying to keep up with her Clayton) and watching out for people crossing the street ahead. This is one of my favorite races and I plan to come again next year.”

Nine-year-old Greyson Mallen  won the Kids’ Fun Run, which was  0.65 miles, slightly longer than the half-mile loop in the Palisades. He was so far ahead that he ran the last 50 yards backwards, stumbled and fell, but got up in plenty of time to cross the finish line first.

He has grown up running the race and also enjoys basketball, soccer, skateboarding and boogie boarding. Joining him in the Fun Run was his sister Saydee (7) while his parents Blake and Karis ran the 5K. They lost their Highlands home in the fire and are now renting in Venice.

The flat 3.2-mile route started at the beach, continued along Pacific Avenue to South Venice Blvd. and east on Abbot Kinney Blvd. before making a U-turn near Washington Blvd. and ending at the Windward and Pacific intersection.

—— Click on any photo below to view slide show ——

Gladstones to Reopen Outdoor Space on July 4

By
Lily Tinoco
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Photo by Arden Seretean

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Gladstones will reopen its public deck on Friday, July 4, following months of recovery efforts after the Palisades fire.

“The reopening of Gladstones is more than just the return of a beloved landmark, it’s a celebration of resilience, community and coastal Los Angeles at its finest,” Gladstones shared with the Palisadian-Post. “Guests can look forward to our seafood classics, sweeping ocean views, the beach, good vibes and a refreshed experience that honors our legacy while embracing a bold new chapter.”

The public deck will provide ample space for visitors. Designed by architect Stephen Francis Jones, the remodeled area will feature a fresh coastal aesthetic that blends “timeless beach vibes with a contemporary twist.” A new mural by Los Angeles-based artist Jonas Never, celebrating local culture and resilience, will also be on display at Gladstones.

Due to damage sustained during the Palisades fire, Gladstones said the team has used this time to begin renovating the indoor space. The indoor renovation is expected to be completed by early 2026. The newly opened deck will remain fully operational in the meantime.

Gladstones told the Post it is currently in Phase One of the project, and due to limited kitchen space, will be offering a “pared down” version of its previous menu. But guests can still enjoy a menu of “fan favorites,” including Gladstones’ fish tacos, ceviche and lobster rolls.

“Our goal with Phase Two is to use modern techniques and updated equipment to create a food-driven program that will far exceed the expectations of casual diners and sophisticated palettes alike,” Gladstones explained. “We will have something for everyone.”

As a thank you to the community, Gladstones will offer 50% off food and drinks throughout July for Malibu and Palisades residents, as well as first responders.

“After everything this community has endured, we hope to offer something simple but meaningful—good food and some good news in a world that needs both,” Co-Owner and General Manager of Gladstones Legacy Group Jim Harris said in a statement. “This reopening is our way of saying—we’re still here, and we’re here for you.”

For the foreseeable future, Gladstones will be open from 11 a.m. to sunset.

Palisades Gift Shop Sells Copies of Town Flag

By
Sarah Shmerling
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Photo courtesy of Palisades Gift Shop

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Palisades Gift Shop is selling copies of the Palisades flag, which are now available on its website for $45.

The flag was created through a contest with then-Honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades Jake Steinfeld in the Palisadian-Post. A campaign was launched to solicit designs for the flag while raising money for charities.

The flag was originally available in 2014, with a design by Sean Lim and Will Dintenfass—who met at Palisades Charter Elementary School—chosen out of more than 230 entries. The flag has been reprinted several times since then, most recently available in February after the Palisades fire, with Steinfeld’s mantra at the bottom: “DON’T QUIT.” (This iteration of the flag does not include the phrase.)

“Today [the flag] represents the true strength of our town, and we are honored to sell them, with all proceeds going to replanting trees in the Palisades through Palisades Beautiful,” according to Palisades Gift Shop.

Palisades Beautiful Plans Chautauqua, Bowdoin Cleanup

By
Sarah Shmerling
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A previous cleanup event
Photo courtesy of Palisades Beautiful

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Locally founded nonprofit Palisades Beautiful will host its fourth cleanup event on Saturday, July 5, at 11 a.m.

“Help clean up trash and trim back plants on Chautauqua near Sunset [Boulevard],” read an event description.

This time, the group will conduct trash pickup on Chautauqua, heading south from Sunset Boulevard. They will then break for lunch, before pulling weeds on Bowdoin Street.

“It will be a bit different from our past events that focused mainly on the trash pickup, hopefully we’ll get to use our green thumbs a bit this time,” organizers continued.

Gloves, grabbers and trash bags will be provided by Palisades Beautiful. Volunteers are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes and bring water. Long pants and sleeves are also recommended.

“We had a busy June, with our third trash cleanup and a booth at ‘Venice Welcomes the Palisades,’” organizers said. “Volunteers removed over 15 bags of trash around Marquez, and native poppy seeds were sown. [Councilmember] Traci Park stopped by our booth and even played our new game.”

Noah Martin is the president of Palisades Beautiful—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that he launched in February “dedicated to restoring natural spaces” in the community.

“We’re dedicated to revitalizing our neighborhood through native landscaping,” read the Palisades Beautiful website. “Our mission is to make the Palisades more beautiful and sustainable one plant at a time.”

The group has created a proposal to replace trees that were cut down on Swarthmore Avenue in front of CVS. The project is in discussion with the city’s public works department, according to Palisades Beautiful, which would need to approve it.

“We have been planting many new native plants around the Palisades, and still have more to donate,” the organization continued. “If you know an area that could use some greenery—or even if you need a few plants for your own property—don’t hesitate to reach out.”

Pali High to Begin School Year at Sears Building

By
the Palisadian-Post
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Architecture firm Practice presents three potential schemes at a Pali Elementary design concept meeting.
Courtesy of Practice

LAUSD Hosted Three Design Concept Community Meetings for Palisades Charter Schools

By SARAH SHMERLING and LILY TINOCO

Palisades Charter High School will begin the 2025-26 academic year at its temporary campus in Santa Monica at a renovated Sears building, officials announced on June 18.

“After thoughtful consideration and multiple visits to our Palisades campus, we’ve determined that the best place to kick off the 2025-26 school year will be our Pali South campus in Santa Monica,” Pali High Executive Director/Principal Dr. Pam Magee wrote in a message sent to the school community. “This move allows us the time and space needed to continue restoration work on our main campus, while ensuring that our students and staff can start the year in a safe, fully functional learning environment.”

Pali High, which sustained damage in the Palisades fire, will remain at the Santa Monica space at least through Thanksgiving break, according to Magee, with a possibility of through the end of the first semester. The temporary campus first opened in April.

“Our goal is to return to the Palisades with as little disruption as possible to teaching and learning,” Magee said. “In the meantime, restoration work is well underway—focusing on key shared spaces like the football field, gym and aquatic center—so they may possibly be ready for community use even before we return.”

Ahead of the announcement from Pali High, Los Angeles Unified School District hosted a series of three design concept community meetings June 4 to 6 regarding the charter school campuses damaged in the Palisades fire: Pali High, Marquez Charter Elementary School and Palisades Charter Elementary School.

“The January 2025 Palisades fire caused an unprecedented loss of facilities due to fire damage, with significant impacts to Marquez Charter Elementary School, Palisades Charter Elementary School and Palisades Charter High School,” read a slide from LAUSD. “The proposed projects have been developed to expedite the repopulation of the affected schools. These projects replace facilities that were destroyed at each school. Both temporary and permanent facilities will be constructed to serve the student populations that were present prior to the fire at each school.”

The projects at Marquez and Pali Elementary will be “funded by the category of need for major modernizations, upgrades and reconfigurations to school campuses,” LAUSD continued.

During the meetings, the LAUSD facilities team, as well as the contracted architect for each school, led a “discussion of the preliminary design for the rebuild” of the schools.

The Pali Elementary meeting took place on June 4, with Practice: an “award-winning architecture firm based in Pasadena,” which is “nationally recognized for its innovative, sustainable and community-centered design.” They work alongside Hongjoo Kim Landscape Architects.

The scope of the project at Pali Elementary includes to “restore and repair intact buildings with upgrades for reoccupancy,” 16 new classrooms (nine general, five kindergarten/TK and two flexible/makerspace), administrative spaces, multipurpose room, and maintenance facilities.

The proposed permanent multipurpose room would be larger than the auditorium at about 3,000 square feet, according to the presentation. It would have more seating, could be used for indoor dining, would offer more storage, and would have “pipe grid stage lighting and built-in projector with motorized projection screen.”

What Practice reported hearing ahead of the meeting from the community regarding the rebuild included maximizing open space and connectivity, restoring a “community resource and social anchor,” constructing a “resilient school for future generations,” and respecting the “historic resource, while promoting a forward-looking vision.”

During the meeting, Practice presented three potential “schemes,” with the first focused on a two-story, linear building, with “one big open space.” Scheme two focused on “interwoven landscapes” and scheme three on “garden courts.”

Pali Elementary will remain at Brentwood Elementary Science Magnet while its home campus is rebuilt, according to information from Councilmember Traci Park’s office.

The Pali High meeting took place on June 5, where DLR Group was introduced.

“For over 25 years, DLR Group has been a trusted partner to LAUSD, and has collaborated with schools and communities to create learning environments that are not only safe and sustainable, but truly transformational,” according to information shared by the group.

During the June 5 meeting, attendees previewed a preliminary design and were invited to provide feedback, which the architectural team said will use to further refine the concept.

“Tonight is our first meeting,” LAUSD FSD-Community Relations Director Lorena Padilla-Melendez said. “We will be hosting a community meeting to bring you a more developed design sometime in July … Come fall of 2025, we will come back, and at that time, the architectural team will present the final design for the permanent structures on your campus.”

The Pali High project scope includes 22 new classrooms (16 general, one flexible science lab, one flexible engineering, one media and filmmaking, and others) as well as administrative and support spaces. The track and football field, baseball field, field lighting, and ancillary buildings will be replaced.

There will be “interim classrooms during design and construction” of the permanent spaces, including about 29 portable classrooms, five administrative portables and three portable restroom units.

DLR described its project goals and guiding principles as: “belonging, resilience and sustainability.” The firm planned to “foster social connection through layered indoor/outdoor gathering spaces,” while designing with “fire-adaptive materials, passive systems and flexible structures.”

The series of design concept meetings concluded on Friday, June 6, with Marquez, which will be working with NAC: a “national leader in K-12 educational design and architecture.” NAC has designed educational facilities in 32 states, according to the presentation. The firm has worked on Malibu High and Playa Vista Elementary school campuses.

The project scope for Marquez includes 22 new classrooms (15 general classrooms, four kindergarten/TK, two flexible learning spaces and a parent center), administrative spaces, a multipurpose room, library (2,000 square feet, designed for approximately 6,000 books), food services and maintenance facilities. There will also be infrastructure upgrades, which include utilities, landscape and parking improvements.

NAC’s design and planning principals include to “restore Marquez campus culture,” “child-scale, minimize height and two-story structures,” and have “indoor/outdoor connection.”

Key decision points, according to the presentation, will include the location of kindergarten and TK, location of the library/makerspace, scale of circulation/gathering, strategies to negotiate topography, campus access/service access, and character of play/outdoor spaces.

Three concepts NAC discussed during the meeting were The Secret Garden (a “protected, outdoor play/learn space”), The Front Porch (a “covered indoor/outdoor zone running the length of the building”) and The Village Green (a “snaking roof” that “ties together cozy clusters”).

Marquez is slated to reopen in the Palisades this fall, according to Park’s office. The campus will have portable classrooms on site, as well as administration and a library in portables, a mobile kitchen with shaded lunch area, and three portable restroom units, LAUSD said.

During all three meetings, there was a time for stakeholders to pose questions to LAUSD and the architect firms.

Next steps for all three campuses include a design update community meeting with a “more detailed design concept,” where additional community input will be collected, slated for summer 2025. A final design community meeting is projected to take place in fall 2025, with a pre-construction meeting estimated for the beginning of 2027 and reoccupation by the end of 2028, according to the slides.

LAUSD Board Member Nick Melvoin spoke on the projected timeline during the Pali Elementary meeting.

“We—as we discussed when we started meeting with you all a few months ago—are doing everything we can to expedite this process,” Melvoin said. “The superintendent and I have been meeting weekly about this. We are on bi-weekly calls with the governor and his team, who has committed to expediting and waiving whatever they can.”

LADWP Relocates Unified Utilities Rebuild Operations Center to Topanga Canyon Boulevard

By
Sarah Shmerling
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Courtesy of USACE/City of LA

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has relocated its Unified Utilities Rebuild Operations Center from Palisades Recreation Center to Topanga Canyon Boulevard, effective Monday, June 23.

Now operating at 3931 South Topanga Canyon Boulevard (where Malibu Feed Bin was located), the UUROC’s current hours will be Monday through Sunday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

“Recovery doesn’t follow a set timeline, and we understand that our customers are still navigating a long road ahead,” LADWP Chief Executive Officer and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones said. “This relocation ensures uninterrupted access to the resources and support our customers who have been impacted by the January wildfires rely on—and reaffirms our commitment to staying accessible every step of the way.”

The UUROC, which originally opened in the small gym at the rec center on Saturday, March 1, has served over 250 customers, according to LADWP.

From its new location, the UUROC will “continue to offer direct access to LADWP services to those affected by the Palisades fire,” with LADWP representatives on site to discuss “immediate and future needs” with customers, including “starting and stopping water and power service; account inquiries; electric service repair or replacement; electric meter spots; electrical panel replacement; and electrical panel upgrades.”

Representatives can also discuss entire build plans (“site and/or architectural plans,” “electrical load schedule” or “electrical single line diagram”) with customers, or their contractors or designees, according to LADWP.

“From the beginning, our goal has been to meet people where they are, and we did that by bringing the services to them,” LADWP UUROC’s Incident Commander John Vanacore said. “Our customers’ recovery is not just a priority for us but a responsibility we share as part of this community.”

Since the Palisades fire in January, LADWP has set over 1,675 power poles, installed more than 300,000 feet of conductor, and installed “several underground substructures and over 2,300 feet of underground conduit,” the agency reported.

“Last week, LADWP performed additional water distribution system flushing in the affected areas to ensure that water quality continues to meet and/or exceed all state and federal drinking water standards,” according to a statement.

Rebuilding work continues across Pacific Palisades with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers—which is leading the government-run debris removal program—reporting that 3,682 sites had been cleared in the Palisades fire area as of June 24, according to Charles Delano with the USACE Public Affairs Office. There have been 3,430 sites that have received final sign off and given back to the county.

USACE has received 4,004 eligible rights of entry from the county as of June 24. There are 322 parcels remaining to be cleared by USACE. There are 31 debris crews working in the Palisades fire area, with a five-day average of 10 sites cleared.

As of Monday, June 23, 124 permits for 95 unique addresses have been issued related to rebuilding efforts in the Palisades, according to Mayor Karen Bass’ office. The number of non-responsive parcels, who have not opted in or out of the government-run debris removal program, was 15 as of June 24, according to the office of the LA city attorney.

“On May 19, the LA Department of Building and Safety began contacting residential property owners who either didn’t respond to or opted out of the Army Corps’ debris removal program and for whom debris removal hadn’t been verified,” according to the mayor’s office. “These owners must clear debris within 30 days of their notice’s effective date, unless granted an extension by the Board of Building and Safety Commissioners.”

Properties that do not meet the deadline, without an extension, will be referred to FEMA beginning June 30.

“While commercial properties aren’t part of the federal debris removal program,” read the statement from the mayor’s office, “the city has applied to FEMA for special inclusion of certain sites.”

Tickets Available for PAPA Fourth of July Celebration

By
Sarah Shmerling
-
Matty Gottesman sings in 2023.
Photo by Steve Galluzzo

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Though traditions have been amended for 2025, there will be a celebration planned by Palisades Americanism Parade Association for Fourth of July—and tickets are now available for Palisadians.

“Now, more than ever, nothing will stop Palisadians from celebrating our Palisades 4th,” Matthew Rodman and Daphne Gronich wrote on behalf of PAPA.

This year, which marks the 78th Fourth of July celebration, will take place at the Paul Revere Charter Middle School six-acre athletic field. Gates are set to open at 5 p.m., with a “huge drone show” by Pyro Spectaculars at 9 p.m.

The event will include live music, entertainment, kids’ activities and over a dozen food trucks, including Gracias Señor, Sunset Smash Burger, Afters Ice Cream, Kona Ice and more.

“What the fire could not take from us are our memories and our perseverance to carry on,” Gronich and Rodman wrote. “One of those important community underpinnings is a day that many of us believe to be the best day in the Palisades: July 4th.”

Pre-ticketing with address validation is required. Tickets, which are free, are intended for Palisadians, as well as friends and family, and are limited to six per community member.

“This is an occasion for Palisadians to spend time together to celebrate the best days in the Palisades and plan for even better days ahead,” Rodman and Gronich wrote. “We wish we could accommodate folks from a larger geographic area, but the number of Palisadians outnumber the venue’s capacity.”

The evening of the event, there will be no parking available at Paul Revere, but “plenty of parking and free shuttle buses available for attendees” at a parking location in Santa Monica.

“Attendance is limited,” Rodman and Gronich wrote, “so get your tickets now.”

Other Fourth of July activities that are taking place that day include the Palisades Will Rogers 5K Run in Venice at 7 a.m., as well as the Kids’ Fun Run at 8:30 a.m. There will be a Palisades contingent in the Santa Monica 4th of July Parade, which will begin at 9:30 a.m.

“[Pacific Palisades Community Council] will participate in the Santa Monica July 4th Parade on Main Street,” the organization wrote. “Proudly riding in cars will be PPCC’s 2024 Citizen of the Year Cindi Young and Pride of the Palisades Thomas Hathaway, along with Golden Sparkplugs Leslie Campbell and Carlos Rodriguez—come to the parade and cheer them on.”

For more information on how to obtain tickets to the PAPA Fourth of July event, visit palisades4th.com. Signs ups for the 5K and Kids’ Fun Run are open at palisades10k.com.

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