Altadena Heritage | Advocacy and Preservation

Altadena Heritage is dedicated to helping our community rebuild after devastating fires, focusing on fire-resilient designs and preserving the unique architectural character of our area. We aim to ensure everyone has the opportunity to rebuild and will host workshops, talks, and community events to support this effort. Join us in coming together to assist our neighbors and restore the community we cherish.

Altadena Libraries

LA Fires – Connected Wellness Critical Programs to help get our neighbors back on their feet.

Wildfire Prepared Home

The Wildfire Prepared Home designation program enables homeowners to take preventative measures for their home and yard to protect against wildfire

Fire Adapted Communities

People learning and working together are the foundation of fire adaptation. FAC Net invests in people and in place-based efforts to change relationships with fire.

National Firewise USA

Protect your home and neighborhood as well as your family’s safety. The Firewise USA® program is here to help you get started.

Board Letter to AH Members

Dear Altadena Heritage Members,

It’s impossible to put the scale and dimension of our losses – both physical and emotional — into words. But the one word that has always been at the heart of Altadena — and Altadena Heritage — is “community.”

We wanted to let you – our members – know that we as a board will do all we can to help rebuild the bonds of community. It may be in the form of zoom meetings and informative talks, or simply setting up a social gathering so people can come together.

When I think of the joy and friendship that filled the Woodbury house at our holiday party in December, I am warmed with hope that we can create that again albeit in smaller ways.

It will not be easy. So far, five out of the nine Altadena board members’ homes were destroyed. Four homes survived: mine, Kathleen McDonnell’s, Bill Stuart’s and Ken Haber’s. Our hearts are breaking for the thousands of families whose homes are gone.

The Eaton Fire is clearly Altadena’s greatest challenge. Our story will forever be divided between life “before the fire” and life “after the fire.” But note the key word is life. And the resilience that has been nurtured by years of strong bonds, friendships and common community will serve us well.

With sympathy, hope and strength,

Hans Allhoff
Val Zavala
Kathleen McDonnell
Gary Mendes
Darrell Webber
Claire Smith
Bill Stuart
Huan Gu
Ken Haber

AH Membership Letter

Dear Altadena Heritage Members,

We hope this message finds you safe and well during this incredibly challenging time. As you know, the Eaton Fire has devastated our beloved community, annihilating nearly 60% of residential structures and leaving profound destruction in its wake. Our hearts go out to all those affected, and we stand together in support of rebuilding and recovery.

Given the circumstances, Altadena Heritage is temporarily suspending our membership drives. Instead, we are extending all active memberships for an additional year—free of charge—as a gesture of solidarity and support. While our membership site will remain open, we kindly ask that, for this year, contributions be made in the form of donations rather than membership renewals.
Your support has always been the backbone of our mission to protect, preserve, and honor the architectural, environmental, and cultural heritage of Altadena. Now, more than ever, we are committed to helping our community heal and restore what has been lost.

If you are able, please consider making a donation to aid our efforts during this critical time. Every contribution will go directly toward initiatives that help sustain and rebuild our shared heritage.
Thank you for being a part of Altadena Heritage. We will continue to provide updates as we navigate the road ahead together.

With gratitude and resilience,

Darrell Weber
Membership

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About AH

Membership

Owen Brown Gravesite

Altadena Heritage is a nonprofit volunteer-based advocacy organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, and raising awareness of our foothill community’s rich architectural, environmental, and cultural heritage.

Upcoming Lecture • Friday June 27th

This lecture will explore an essential layer of Altadena’s rich and historic human diversity: its troublemakers. What can they teach us about the meaning of this place, and to what degree are they worth remembering? Subjects include Zeke the Compost Sheik, Paul Little AKA Max Hardcore, and the proprietor of a local steakhouse known for having Richard Feynman as a regular. Gather round! We’ll think, laugh, and maybe even squirm.

Register

More about this Event

Altadena Revealed Lecture Series – “Outlaws of Altadena: The Criminal Prosecutions of Our Colorful Contrarians”

Friday, June 27th @ Altadena Main Library
Doors open at 7:00 PM, Lecture from 7:30–8:30 PM

The Foothill Catalog Foundation is happy to present a monthly lecture series and social hour in collaboration with Pasadena Heritage, Altadena Heritage, Bungalow Heaven Landmark District, and the Altadena Historical Society, hosted by Altadena Libraries. Through this series, we aim to highlight the unique history and diversity of our community. There are many stories to tell, so you can look forward to hearing from experts and community members alike. Whether you are a local looking to learn something new about your neighborhood or a building professional interested in contributing to the rebuild efforts, this series is for you. Truly, it’s for all of us – to gather together and celebrate what makes this place special. We hope to see you there!

A $10 donation is requested with your registration. All event proceeds will support the mission of The Foothill Catalog Foundation. For those looking for a free admission option, please contact us at info@foothillcatalog.org and we will get you registered at no cost.

About our Speaker, Hans Allhoff

Hans is the Chair of Altadena Heritage and a resident of the Rubio Canyon area in northeast Altadena. He practices criminal defense and civil litigation with the law firm of Spertus, Landes & Josephs in downtown Los Angeles.

About Altadena Heritage

Altadena Heritage is a nonprofit volunteer-based advocacy organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, and raising awareness of our foothill community’s rich architectural, environmental, and cultural heritage.

About the Foothill Catalog Foundation

The Foothill Catalog Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to rebuilding and restoring communities affected by the Eaton Fire in Southern California’s foothill neighborhoods. Their primary initiative, The Foothill Catalog, offers a collection of pre-approved home designs that enable displaced residents to rebuild their homes efficiently and affordably while preserving the region’s unique architectural character.