Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles after the January 2025 Wildfires
The January 2025 wildfires left behind unprecedented destruction in Los Angeles, burning more than 16,000 structures and 40,000 acres of land, displacing thousands, and placing immense strain on the region’s housing market, infrastructure, and economy.
Recognizing the urgent need for coordinated recovery efforts, ULI Los Angeles, the UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate, and the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate convened approximately 100 leading experts, including ULI members, specializing in land use, real estate, infrastructure, and economic development to develop Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles after the January 2025 Wildfires.
This report provides a comprehensive, solutions-driven roadmap to accelerate recovery and strengthen long-term resilience. It offers in-depth technical analysis, case studies, and best practices designed to help Los Angeles rebuild faster, more affordably, and with greater climate adaptation strategies in place.
The report explores eight key recovery challenges and presents strategic recommendations for overcoming them, including:
- Standardizing debris removal protocols to expedite property owners’ safe return.
- Fast-tracking rebuilding efforts by enhancing government capacity to effectively and efficiently manage the permitting and inspection process.
- Addressing labor and supply chain issues affecting construction logistics and timelines.
- Stabilizing California’s property insurance market to ensure continued coverage.
- Introducing Community Rebuilding Authorities (CRAs) to coordinate recovery efforts across impacted areas.
- Securing funding for infrastructure restoration, with a focus on increased preparedness.
We extend our sincere appreciation to the ULI members, staff, partners, and industry leaders who contributed their time, insights, and expertise to this critical initiative, including:
- Clare De Briere, immediate past chair of ULI Americas and ULI Global Board of Directors member, and Lew Horne, incoming district council chair of ULI Los Angeles, for their pivotal roles in initiating and guiding this effort.
- Stuart Gabriel (UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate) and Richard Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) for their invaluable partnership and academic expertise throughout the project.
- Ryan Altoon (Chair, ULI Los Angeles) and Kellie Kao Miles (Executive Director, ULI Los Angeles), whose leadership has strengthened the LA District Council as a key resource for knowledge-sharing and community impact.
- The ULI Foundation, whose generous financial support, made possible by numerous donors, helped bring this initiative to life.
Organizing and Governance Committee:
- Lew Horne (Chair), CBRE
- Clare De Briere, Catalyst Property Company
- Lew Feldman, Heritage CRETech Ventures
- Stuart Gabriel, UCLA Ziman Center
- Richard Green, USC Lusk Center
- Gadi Kaufmann, RCLCO
- Tim Kawahara, UCLA Ziman Center
- Kellie Kao Miles, Urban Land Institute Los Angeles
- David Waite, Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP
- Kev Zoryan, Arselle Investments
Team Leads:
- Preston Brooks, Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP
- Marty Caverly, Lowe
- Darcy L. Coleman, Alagem Capital Group
- Clare De Briere, Catalyst Property Company
- Adrian Foley, Brookfield
- Stuart Gabriel, UCLA Ziman Center
- Richard Green, USC Lusk Center
- Rob Jernigan, ClayCo
- Gadi Kaufmann, RCLCO
- Jacob Lipa, Lipa Consulting Group
- Taylor Mammen, RCLCO
- Steve Matt, Matt Construction
- Mitch Menzer, Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP
- Jules Radcliff, Radcliff Fairman LLP
- Carl Svensson, CBRE
- Joss Tillard-Gates, Clark Construction
- David Waite, Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP
- Kev Zoryan, Arselle Investments
Report Summary: The January 2025 wildfires left behind unprecedented destruction in Los Angeles, burning more than 16,000 structures and 40,000 acres of land, displacing thousands, and placing immense strain on the region’s housing market, infrastructure, and economy.
Recognizing the urgent need for coordinated recovery efforts, ULI Los Angeles, the UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate, and the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate convened approximately 100 leading experts, including ULI members, specializing in land use, real estate, infrastructure, and economic development to develop Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles after the January 2025 Wildfires.
This report provides a comprehensive, solutions-driven roadmap to accelerate recovery and strengthen long-term resilience. It offers in-depth technical analysis, case studies, and best practices designed to help Los Angeles rebuild faster, more affordably, and with greater climate adaptation strategies in place.
The report explores eight key recovery challenges and presents strategic recommendations for overcoming them, including:
- Standardizing debris removal protocols to expedite property owners’ safe return.
- Fast-tracking rebuilding efforts by enhancing government capacity to effectively and efficiently manage the permitting and inspection process.
- Addressing labor and supply chain issues affecting construction logistics and timelines.
- Stabilizing California’s property insurance market to ensure continued coverage.
- Introducing Community Rebuilding Authorities (CRAs) to coordinate recovery efforts across impacted areas.
- Securing funding for infrastructure restoration, with a focus on increased preparedness.
We extend our sincere appreciation to the ULI members, staff, partners, and industry leaders who contributed their time, insights, and expertise to this critical initiative, including:
- Clare De Briere, immediate past chair of ULI Americas and ULI Global Board of Directors member, and Lew Horne, incoming district council chair of ULI Los Angeles, for their pivotal roles in initiating and guiding this effort.
- Stuart Gabriel (UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate) and Richard Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) for their invaluable partnership and academic expertise throughout the project.
- Ryan Altoon (Chair, ULI Los Angeles) and Kellie Kao Miles (Executive Director, ULI Los Angeles), whose leadership has strengthened the LA District Council as a key resource for knowledge-sharing and community impact.
- The ULI Foundation, whose generous financial support, made possible by numerous donors, helped bring this initiative to life.
Organizing and Governance Committee:
- Lew Horne (Chair), CBRE
- Clare De Briere, Catalyst Property Company
- Lew Feldman, Heritage CRETech Ventures
- Stuart Gabriel, UCLA Ziman Center
- Richard Green, USC Lusk Center
- Gadi Kaufmann, RCLCO
- Tim Kawahara, UCLA Ziman Center
- Kellie Kao Miles, Urban Land Institute Los Angeles
- David Waite, Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP
- Kev Zoryan, Arselle Investments
Team Leads:
- Preston Brooks, Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP
- Marty Caverly, Lowe
- Darcy L. Coleman, Alagem Capital Group
- Clare De Briere, Catalyst Property Company
- Adrian Foley, Brookfield
- Stuart Gabriel, UCLA Ziman Center
- Richard Green, USC Lusk Center
- Rob Jernigan, ClayCo
- Gadi Kaufmann, RCLCO
- Jacob Lipa, Lipa Consulting Group
- Taylor Mammen, RCLCO
- Steve Matt, Matt Construction
- Mitch Menzer, Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP
- Jules Radcliff, Radcliff Fairman LLP
- Carl Svensson, CBRE
- Joss Tillard-Gates, Clark Construction
- David Waite, Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP
- Kev Zoryan, Arselle Investments
About the Report
Project Recovery is a living document, continuously updated to reflect new developments, emerging challenges, and evolving recovery strategies. This report serves as a resource for policymakers, industry leaders, and communities, ensuring access to the most current insights throughout the rebuilding process. Drawing on ULI’s extensive expertise in disaster recovery, Project Recovery incorporates lessons learned from previous efforts, including post-disaster advisory work in Colorado after the 2021 Marshall Fire and rebuilding strategies developed following Hurricane Sandy in New York and New Jersey. Additionally, it builds on more than a decade of research and best practices from ULI’s Urban Resilience program, offering adaptable strategies for strengthening long-term resilience across the Greater Los Angeles area and beyond.
