Genesis Builder offers fixed-price Altadena homes starting at under $700K

Firm provides turnkey move-ins with a year for 24 pre-approved home plans to help wildfire survivors rebuild

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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In the aftermath of the devastating 2025 Eaton fire that destroyed over 9,400 structures in Altadena, Genesis Builders, a joint venture between Cityview and Montage Development, is offering 24 pre-approved home plans vetted by Los Angeles County to streamline the rebuilding process. The firm is providing turnkey move-in ready homes within a year, with fixed base pricing starting just under $700,000 and going up to $880,000, plus the option to personalize with finishes and upgrades. By purchasing materials in bulk, Genesis is able to keep individual rebuild costs predictable even for smaller-scale projects.

Why it matters

The Eaton fire was one of California's most devastating disasters, destroying thousands of homes in Altadena. The traditional permitting process could take up to 8 months, so Genesis Builders' model of pre-approved plans and a 30-day county review aims to drastically speed up the rebuilding timeline for wildfire survivors struggling to find a way back to their beloved foothill community.

The details

Genesis Builders is offering 24 house plans already vetted by Los Angeles County, with 8 more in the pipeline. The firm is breaking ground on the first of 30 planned homes in the next few months, including a 1,750-square-foot, two-story Spanish-style home for Genesis' senior director of business development Rebecca Zandovskis, who lost her own home in the Eaton fire. By purchasing materials in bulk for dozens of homes, Genesis is able to leverage the same supply-chain scale as large housing developments to keep individual rebuild costs predictable.

  • On January 7, 2025, the wind-driven Eaton fire began, scorching 14,021 acres and destroying 9,418 structures over 24 days.
  • On September 4, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil lawsuit alleging the Eaton fire was ignited by faulty utility equipment owned by Southern California Edison.
  • On February 24, 2026, Genesis Builders broke ground on the first of 30 planned homes in the next few months.

The players

Genesis Builders

A joint venture between veteran Southern California homebuilders Cityview and Montage Development, formed in the aftermath of the 2025 Eaton firestorms to provide a streamlined rebuilding process for Altadena wildfire survivors.

Rebecca Zandovskis

The senior director of business development at Genesis Builders, who lost her own home in the Eaton fire and is now building a new 1,750-square-foot, two-story Spanish-style home on her Marcheta Street corner lot.

Anish Saraiya

The director of Altadena Recovery for Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger's office, who explains the county's new plan to speed up the permitting process for fire rebuilds to just 30 days.

Sean Barton

The chief executive officer of Cityview, one of the firms that make up Genesis Builders.

Southern California Edison

The utility company alleged by the U.S. Department of Justice to have owned and operated the faulty equipment that ignited the Eaton fire.

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What they’re saying

“The county doesn't build this many homes in a single year. The idea here is that if you can get a plan that's approved through the county, it's something that somebody can simply pick up and replicate.”

— Anish Saraiya, director of Altadena Recovery for Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger's office (ocregister.com)

“Prior to the fire, the permitting process could take up to eight months. We reduced that down to weeks. We, the county, should not hold your plan for more than 30 days.”

— Anish Saraiya, director of Altadena Recovery for Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger's office (ocregister.com)

“All in — drainage, grading, permits, finishes, the whole nine yards — it's about $860,000, and that's with a garage. When this started moving and shaking as much as it did, we were like, OK, it's on now.”

— Rebecca Zandovskis, senior director of business development, Genesis Builders (ocregister.com)

“We eat any cost overruns — whether from tariffs or delays.”

— Sean Barton, chief executive officer, Cityview (ocregister.com)

“We're doing between five and 10 at a time.”

— Sean Barton, chief executive officer, Cityview (ocregister.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Southern California Edison out on bail.

The takeaway

Genesis Builders' streamlined rebuilding model, with pre-approved plans and a 30-day county review process, is a critical step in helping Altadena wildfire survivors rebuild their homes and community in the aftermath of one of California's most devastating disasters.