Sunset Mesa homeowners break ground on collaborative Seaview Homes rebuild
By Barbara Burke · Thu May 21 2026
Joined by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, fire survivors launch an innovative community-driven initiative
Daunted by lengthy permit application processes, insurance hurdles, zoning restrictions, and the high cost of rebuilding, a group of 21 homeowners in the Sunset Mesa neighborhood in unincorporated Los Angeles, whose homes were destroyed in the Palisades Fire, have collaborated in the Seaview Homes initiative. The effort is a coordinated, community-driven approach aimed at making rebuilding more affordable and accessible by organizing together using standardized designs and shared construction resources.
On April 21, property owners, representatives from Clive Wilkinson Architects and Comstock Homes were joined by LA Planning Director Amy J. Bodek and LA County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath as they celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony.
The idea is to leverage economies of scale to achieve affordable rebuilding costs by buying in bulk and building together so as to save in both materials and construction costs while still ensuring homes are built using high-quality, fire-resilient construction. Going it alone in a time where the cost of rebuilding might be affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and varying tariff rates is a hard journey. Those participating in the initiative seek to find relief in a collective rebuilding approach.
Clive Wilkinson, a Los Angeles-based business, led a four-month pro bono design process, interacting with dozens of homeowners in community meetings. “We reviewed all options, including pre-fabrication and modular homes, finally determining that conventional building would be the most cost-effective and efficient method,” Elisabeth Wilkinson posted. “In order to advance the necessary detailed design work, 15 homeowners signed on as stakeholders, funding development and helping to shape four standard house plans.”
The result — four adaptable home models available in single-story and two-story split-level forms, varying in sizes, finishes, and price points. Comstock Homes is leading construction.
The Malibu Times caught up with Elisabeth Wilkinson, seeking more information about cost savings. “The average cost to rebuild, especially on the West side of LA, is close to $1,000 a square foot and the price goes up from there,” she said. “With our program, those who are rebuilding will be paying about half of that. That cost is all in as it includes landscaping, hard scaping and permitting.”
The significant cost savings is, Wilkinson explained, “Attributable to bulk buying of materials and to working with the firm’s construction partners who have the subcontractors who are used to buying in bulk and building collaboratively. Such collaboration is unusual when doing a rebuild of specific houses, as opposed to building tract homes.”
The Seaview Homes initiative was spearheaded by Sunset Mesa residents Francesca Cohn and Glen Beer, who proposed a collective rebuilding model after realizing that rebuilding individually would not be financially attainable.
A community moving forward together
The catastrophic Palisades Fire damaged 80% of the 500 homes in the Sunset Mesa community. “This groundbreaking is about more than rebuilding homes — it’s about a community moving forward together,” Horvath said. “In the face of unimaginable loss, Sunset Mesa residents came together with creativity and determination to chart a new path forward. Los Angeles County is proud to partner in clearing barriers and supporting innovative solutions like Seaview Homes that help more families recover and rebuild.”
Horvath’s team coordinated with the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning and the Department of Public Works’ Building and Safety to help with the permit applications process.
Sunset Mesa resident Isabelle Hurley remarked, “With the help of the government, with the help of community leaders, with the help of people that live right across the street from us, we’ve been able to imagine beginning over and finding a new home to replace the home that we’ve lived in for so very long.”
Seaview Homes builders can choose from four main, site-adaptable designs ranging from three to five bedrooms. Each model highlights ocean and mountain views and incorporates fire mitigation features.
“Our work has always focused on leveraging the power of community.” Clive Wilkinson said. “There have been obstacles and compromises, but there’s nothing like working with a great group of people to achieve something new and invaluable.”
For fire survivors and Horvath, the focus is on rebuilding — together.
“Together, we are able to offer an end-to-end solution, peace of mind, and a cost-effective approach to restoring this beloved community,” Horvath said.
Construction on the first phase of the effort will continue throughout this year, with the first homes expected to be completed by mid-2027. Additional homeowners are now being invited to participate in future phases as the initiative expands.
According to project architect Elisabeth Wilkinson, the average cost to rebuild on the Westside of Los Angeles is substantial — and often climbs higher depending on site conditions and custom requirements. Through Horvath’s collaborative rebuilding program, participating homeowners are projected to pay roughly half of what a traditional individual rebuild would cost. That figure includes the full scope of work: permitting, construction, landscaping, and hardscaping.
Wilkinson said the savings are made possible through bulk purchasing of materials and close coordination with construction partners who already have subcontractors in place.
“This is unusual,” Wilkinson explained. “Typically, these are one-off rebuilds, not tract homes — yet by approaching them collectively, we are able to create efficiencies homeowners could never access on their own.”
As planning for the second wave of homes moves forward, Wilkinson said she continues to be struck by the determination of those who lost everything.
“I am amazed by people’s resilience,” she said.
