Rather than rebuild, some homeowners are relocating existing houses to Eaton Fire zone
ALTADENA, Calif. (KABC) -- Thousands of people in Altadena and Pasadena lost their homes in the devastating Eaton Fire, and now some of those residents have decided to relocate existing houses from other parts of Southern California to now-empty property lots in the fire zone rather than rebuild.
The Historic House Relocation Project takes homes that were set to be demolished and gives them a new life with victims of the wildfire.
Evan Chambers, who lost his home in the Eaton Fire, is helping to dismantle an old historic house in Hollywood -- saving every board, light and tub to make them part of his new home in Altadena.
"I want my old house back but I really do love this home," he told ABC7. "And the more I kind of worked on it -- being a part of tearing it down to make the move -- the more I've grown attached to it."
Chambers and his family lost everything in the fire, but thanks to the Historic House Relocation Project, led by the architectural and interior design firm Omgivning, a piece of the past will soon be Chambers' home for the future.
"It's both saving a house from the landfill," said Morgan Sykes Jaybush, creative director of Omgivning. "It's keeping some historic character within our greater LA area and bringing character back to neighborhoods that wouldn't have ways to do that in any other format."
Morgan Sykes Jaybush, who is heading up the project, says it's about half the cost of new construction.
For Chambers -- who bought the move-in-ready two-story 1911 Craftsman for one dollar from a developer who was going to tear it down -- it's a financial lifeline, given his insurance payout.
Omgivning has identified approximately 80 homes set for tear-down that would be eligible for the program and are actively seeking more.
The first home is expected to be relocated in early August.
