- Joel Price
- (805) 370-0542
SACRAMENTO – More than a year after the devastating Pacific Palisades Fire, a gap in state law has kept a Pacific Palisades condominium community in legal limbo and unable to rebuild their homes.
In response to calls for legislative action, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D—Thousand Oaks) introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 2692 to provide residents with a path forward.
Over half of the 107 units in the Via de la Paz condo community tragically burned last year when California’s third-most destructive wildfire made its way through Pacific Palisades. While residents were eager to begin recovery, they discovered the documents governing their property—referred to as Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs)—expired shortly before the fires.
Current state law is silent on how a community can manage their affairs when the community’s governing documents expire immediately before an extraordinary emergency event such as the fire. Without valid CC&Rs, Via de la Paz has been unable to take action as they look to rebuild from this devastating wildfire.
AB 2692 will provide Via de la Paz residents with an opportunity to vote to reinstate their CC&Rs.
“This community has faced unimaginable levels of grief and frustration from not only losing their homes, but also from this terrible situation which has left them paralyzed from moving forward with their lives,” said Assemblymember Irwin. “AB 2692 is a common-sense measure that will bridge this legal ambiguity.”
“This is a huge step toward getting the Palisades back on its feet,” said David Greifinger, a Via de la Paz resident.
The need for this bill could not be more urgent. Several residents have been approved for a $150,000 zero-interest, 30-year loan from Habitat for Humanity, as well as an additional $300,000 loan from the Small Business Administration. Both programs require funds to be drawn down and construction to begin within strict post-disaster timelines, often within two years.
If this recovery remains stalled, the families of Via de la Paz risk losing access to the funds designed to help them rebuild, turning temporary displacement into permanent loss.
Chad Comey, another Via de la Paz resident said, “I’m grateful for the Assembly’s unanimous support— it means hope for families like mine, and we look to the Senate to help turn that hope into a path home.”
AB 2692 was passed without opposition by the Assembly last week and is now headed to the Senate.
Assemblymember Irwin’s website: https://a42.asmdc.org
Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin represents California’s 42nd Assembly District, which includes portions of both Ventura and Los Angeles Counties; including all of Agoura Hills, Bel Air, Beverly Glen, Brentwood, Casa Conejo, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Lake Sherwood, Malibu, Moorpark, Oak Park, Pacific Palisades, Santa Susana, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Topanga, Westlake Village, and portions of Camarillo.