Owners of fire-destroyed Palisades mobile home park seek to displace residents for development deal

"The memorandum, quietly posted on a website associated with the global commercial real estate company CBRE, says that the Palisades fire created a "blank canvas for redevelopment" at a site "ideally positioned for a transformative residential or mixed-use project." The memorandum describes the current single-family residential zoning as "favorable" for developers."

""Multifamily and mixed-use development on this site is not allowed by existing zoning and land use regulations," Mayor Karen Bass's office said in a statement, clarifying that only low density single-family housing or reconstruction of the mobile home park aligns with current regulations."

"Former residents have feared the uncommunicative owners would seek to displace them in favor of a more lucrative development deal after the Palisades fire destroyed the rent-controlled mobile home park, with displaced residents and local advocates criticizing the owners for ignoring offers to rebuild the community."

Following the Palisades fire that destroyed the Pacific Palisades Bowl Mobile Estates, a 170-unit rent-controlled mobile home park, the property owners are advertising it as a development opportunity. A confidential memorandum from CBRE describes the site as a "blank canvas for redevelopment" suitable for transformative residential or mixed-use projects. However, current zoning regulations and coastal laws do not permit the types of development suggested in the marketing materials. Displaced residents and local advocates have criticized the owners for ignoring reconstruction offers and failing to communicate with former tenants. City officials and housing experts confirm that multifamily and mixed-use development is prohibited by existing regulations.

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