T
en months after the Eaton Fire that razed 6,000 Altadena homes, survivors face a pressing decision. Genesis Builders, a partnership of Cityview and Montage Development, offers a turnkey rebuild with fixed pricing and a 16‑month guarantee that covers pre‑construction work.
The company presents six pre‑approved home designs in four styles—Mediterranean, traditional, craftsman, and bungalow—yielding 24 total options. Each plan is sized 1,250–2,200 sq ft, matching the typical 1,000–2,500 sq ft footprint of the destroyed houses. Genesis also conducts site surveys, geotechnical reports, and civic plan reviews for each lot.
Base prices run from $670,000 to $880,000 ($400–$536 per sq ft). A clear, rapid timeline and transparent costs give homeowners “security” amid the end of mortgage forbearance and the loss of relocation aid. Rebecca Zandovskis, a former Cityview lease‑up employee who lost her Altadena home, now rebuilds with Genesis, combining insurance, an SBA disaster loan, and savings to protect her retirement.
Genesis keeps costs low by leveraging long‑term subcontractor relationships, negotiating waived permit fees with local authorities, and building in bulk to achieve economies of scale. Pre‑approved plans with L.A. County speed the process, preventing homeowners from having to sell land during a market downturn. Montage’s president, Stephen Ross, emphasizes the importance of honest pricing and fire safety.
Fire‑resistant features include Class A roofing, flashing, sprinklers, ember‑resistant eaves, dual‑glazed windows, non‑combustible finishes, 5‑ft defensible space, stucco siding, and concrete slabs—exceeding California code. Genesis also offers two 800‑sq‑ft ADUs and a 528‑sq‑ft ADU, each in the same styles, at roughly $240–$350 per sq ft. Eight rebuild contracts have been signed, four with ADUs, and two‑thirds of potential clients express interest in adding one. The rising demand for ADUs, now 14,000 permits this year versus 1,000–2,000 in 2018, reflects their value for rental income, family housing, or flexible space.
To connect with the community, Genesis will open a local showroom where clients can view finishes, countertops, appliances, and engineered wood samples. Zandovskis stresses the emotional weight of rebuilding and the importance of seeing quality materials in person, not just on screen. Shah notes that the company’s focus is to reduce construction costs without compromising quality or fire‑resistance, reversing typical construction pitfalls.
