Shah was co-head of Cityview’s development and acquisitions in the Western US. He has 27 years of experience in real estate investment, development, design, construction, and asset management. Previously, Devang was the principal of Marketcents Inc., an independent project management firm, serving as an owner’s representative to investment firms, builders, and developers. Prior to that, he worked as Vice-President at RCLCo, LLC, a national independent real estate consulting firm. Today, Devang is applying his deep industry expertise through Genesis Builders to help homeowners rebuild faster, safer, and more affordably in wildfire-affected communities like Altadena.

In this episode, Jan and Devang discuss:

• The origin story behind Genesis Builders after the January 7 wildfires
• Pre-approved home designs and streamlined permitting in Altadena
• Fire-resistant building standards and insurance-driven construction requirements
• ADUs as a cost-effective add-on during the rebuilding process

Key Takeaways:

• By leveraging long-standing subcontractor relationships and economies of scale, Genesis Builders can lower per-square-foot costs compared to traditional custom homes. This makes rebuilding achievable even for homeowners with limited insurance proceeds.
• Pre-approved plans significantly shorten the approval process, allowing homeowners to move from decision to completed home in roughly 16 months. This speed is critical given insurance “loss of use” time limits.
• Fire resistance is a central design priority, with homes exceeding California Chapter 7A requirements and aligning closely with insurance-backed wildfire safety standards.
• ADUs become far more affordable when built alongside the primary residence, since many soft costs are already absorbed. This has led to strong adoption of ADUs among rebuilding homeowners.

“You could be nine months in with a permit in hand and realize you can’t even afford the home. With ours, architectural and structural is already included.” – Devang Shah

Connect with Devang Shah:

Website: http://www.genesisbuildersla.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devang-shah-re/

Connect with Jan Brzeski:

Website: https://scipfinance.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbrzeski/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RebuildingLAafterthefires

Email: pr@scipfinance.com

Show notes by Podcastologist: Francine Poblete

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Sue Kohl is President of the Pacific Palisades Community Council and a local realtor serving as Assistant Manager at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. A top producer since 1989, she’s recognized as one of the best Realtors in Pacific Palisades, and has been effectively representing both sellers and buyers in sales and purchases of single-family homes and condominiums. Sue lost her own home in the January 2025 Palisades Fire. She's now navigating the rebuilding process firsthand while helping her community recover. Sue brings both personal experience and professional insight into what it takes to rebuild LA after the fires.

In this episode, Jan and Sue discuss:

• The mission and structure of the Pacific Palisades Community Council
• Insurance struggles, rebuilding costs, and utility infrastructure issues
• Efforts to underground power lines and modernize infrastructure
• City governance, emergency orders, and the role of local leadership in recovery

Key Takeaways:

• The Pacific Palisades Community Council serves as the voice of the community, advocating to the city and state government on residents’ behalf.
• The community faces high costs and technical hurdles in efforts to underground utilities for future safety.
• Concerns over housing density remain high due to evacuation and accessibility issues during emergencies.
• Sue emphasizes the importance of preserving the Palisades’ character and community feel, even amid redevelopment.

“The main mission of the Community Council is really to be a voice for Pacific Palisades. A voice gathering info from the residents, a voice providing information for the residents, and most importantly, a voice in which we communicate to civic and government leaders.” - Sue Kohl

Connect with Sue Kohl:

Website: https://pacpalicc.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suekohl/

Connect with Jan Brzeski:

Website: https://scipfinance.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbrzeski/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RebuildingLAafterthefires

Email: pr@scipfinance.com

Show notes by Podcastologist: Francine Poblete

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Leo Marmol, FAIA, is the Founder of the architect-led design-build practice Marmol Radziner, established in 1989 with Ron Radziner, FAIA. With a guiding hand in every project from concept to completion, Leo works closely with studio directors and construction teams to ensure seamless design execution. A passionate advocate for architectural preservation, he frequently lectures on architecture and historic restoration and has led tours showcasing Southern California’s mid-century Modernist treasures. A graduate of California Polytechnic State University with a degree in Architecture and a minor in Philosophy, Leo was named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 2007 and inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame in 2009.

In this episode, Jan and Leo discuss:

• How Marmol Radziner evolved from a small partnership to one of Los Angeles’s most respected architecture firms
• The challenges of rebuilding homes in fire zones and the complexities of California’s approval process
• The impact of bureaucracy, CEQA, and NIMBYism on California’s housing crisis
• How leadership, legislation, and community action can drive more attainable and sustainable housing development

Key Takeaways:

• Bureaucratic inefficiency and overregulation severely delay construction and drive up housing costs.
• Community support for density and sustainability is essential to solving California’s housing crisis.
• The expedited permitting process for fire rebuilds proves that faster, more efficient systems are possible.
• Real change requires political diversity, professional expertise, and the courage to streamline housing policy.

“Housing is a fundamental need. I think it is a human right. We are failing to provide our children the opportunity to have economic growth and afford housing.” - Leo Marmol

Connect with Leo Marmol:

Website: https://www.marmol-radziner.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-marmol/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leonardo_e_marmol/

Connect with Jan Brzeski:

Website: https://scipfinance.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbrzeski/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RebuildingLAafterthefires

Email: pr@scipfinance.com

Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelo Paul Tagama

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Kimberlina Whettam is a seasoned real estate development leader with a proven track record guiding projects from concept through completion. She specializes in due diligence research, entitlement management, public hearings, and development permits, leveraging her strong government and industry relationships to secure timely, cost-effective approvals. Previously, she served as Chief Planning & Environmental Deputy for Los Angeles City Councilmember Jack Weiss, where she launched the city’s Green Building Incentive Program and secured community support for the Van Nuys Airport Masterplan. Kimberlina’s company, Kimberlina Whettam & Associates (KW&A), is managing several projects in the fire zones.

In this episode, Jan and Kimberlina discuss:

• The role of permit expediting and land use consulting in LA development
• How executive orders changed rebuilding timelines after the fires
• The challenges of non-conforming structures and rebuilding policies
• Shifts in development activity, tariff and cost implications, and investment trends across LA

Key Takeaways:

• Ministerial approvals now make the permit process much faster than before.
• Policies were updated so homeowners can rebuild their non-conforming houses without losing what they had.
• Unlike single-family homes, commercial projects have not yet been granted the same streamlined path.
• Development has slowed in LA due to several factors, like homeowner sentiment, environmental concern, and new policies affecting developers, among others.

“I feel really confident that this is happening and it will happen, and to get in the game, to get in there and start pushing, push, push, push, all of us pushing. It's gonna happen. We put a man on the moon. We can do this.” - Kimberlina Whettam

Connect with Kimberlina Whettam:

Website: https://www.kwhettam.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlina-whettam-174b05205/

Resources & Contacts:

Christopher Carlin christopher@mgmtpartners.com & Christopher@carlinprojects.com

Case Study 2.0: XTEN Architecture Scott Utterstrom sutterstrom@xtenarchitecture.com

Connect with Jan Brzeski:

Website: https://scipfinance.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbrzeski/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RebuildingLAafterthefires

Email: pr@scipfinance.com

Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelo Paul Tagama

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Randy Balik brings over 25 years of expertise in demolition, remediation, and environmental services. Randy is the executive vice president and co-owner of OFRS, an industrial and commercial remedial construction company that is now providing its services to areas affected by the wildfire in the Pacific Palisades. Randy’s work after the fires has been featured in the L.A. Business Journal and the L.A. Times.

Randy has served on the boards of the Professional Environmental Management Association (PEMA), where he was President, and the Western States Petroleum Association Associates (WSPA Associates), where he is now Chairman Emeritus.

In this episode, Jan and Randy discuss:

• Randy’s career in environmental science and oil field reclamation, and how he got involved in residential work after the fires
• Key contaminants: asbestos, heavy metals, arsenic, and dioxins
• Costs, permitting, and insurance challenges in rebuilding
• The future of communities like the Palisades and their recovery

Key Takeaways:

• Randy emphasizes that OFRS approaches residential fire cleanup with the same precision as industrial projects, ensuring every property undergoes full soil sampling and remediation for safety.
• The most concerning long-term risks stem from metals like lead, arsenic, and chromium, which can persist in the soil even after standard debris removal.
• While the price tag for comprehensive cleanup may seem high, many homeowners can leverage insurance to cover much of the cost, ultimately buying peace of mind.
• Beyond the cleanup itself, Randy points out that slow permitting processes and inadequate environmental testing remain two of the biggest barriers to safe and timely rebuilding.

“I really do hope Palisades comes back, and to come back, that's going to take some smart decisions by both existing property owners rebuilding and developers coming in. Don't be afraid of it. You know, spend a little bit of money. Make sure you know what's there. Be safe about it, and let's move forward. I believe the Palisades can come back very strong if people make the right decisions, and that includes our public agencies, supporting the effort.” - Randy Balik

Connect with Randy Balik:

Website: https://www.ofrsinc.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-balik-898bbb4/

Connect with Jan Brzeski:

Website: https://scipfinance.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbrzeski/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RebuildingLAafterthefires

Email: pr@scipfinance.com

Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelo Paul Tagama

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Salvador Carbajal is the founder of S-AC Design Group and S-AC Builders, leading every stage from concept to construction. Since launching his firm in 2020, he has completed over 200 architectural projects and 40 construction builds, specializing in custom single-family homes, multifamily residences, and ADUs. Beginning his career with one of the nation’s top general contractors, Salvador managed high-rise developments from the ground up—experience that shaped his seamless design–build approach. Through S-AC Design Group, he crafts spaces with a strong design–lifestyle connection, while S-AC Builders ensures flawless execution in-house. His mission is simple: create high-quality, meaningful spaces that bring visions to life.

In this episode, Jan and Salvador discuss:

• The differences between "like-for-like" rebuilds and full new builds in Los Angeles County and City
• Key permitting process timelines and requirements for Altadena and Pacific Palisades
• How to assemble the right team for a smooth construction project
• Strategies to avoid costly change orders and budget overruns
• The benefits of working with experienced architects, engineers, and contractors

Key Takeaways:

• In Altadena, “like-for-like” rebuilds can move quickly, with approvals often secured in just two months. By contrast, full new builds typically face a much longer timeline, averaging around eight months before permits are granted.
• Pacific Palisades, under LA City jurisdiction, allows greater design flexibility for “like-for-like” projects. The added advantage of the coastal exemption can significantly shorten the overall approval process.
• Working with a seasoned architectural firm and a skilled general contractor is essential. Their expertise not only speeds up the permitting process but also helps navigate complex construction challenges.
• A detailed, line-by-line bid from your contractor is a safeguard against unwelcome surprises. This level of transparency can greatly reduce the risk of mid-project change orders that inflate costs.
• Opting for a flat lot can save both time and effort during construction. Hillside lots, while often scenic, introduce additional complexity and longer timelines, especially for new builds.

“Choosing a general contractor is very important, and choosing a good architect or designer who knows what they're doing is important — even speed is important for you, then that's something to consider.”

- Salvador Carbajal

Connect with Salvador Carbajal:

Website: https://s-acm.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sac_designbuild/

Email: salcarbajal@s-acm.com

Connect with Jan Brzeski:

Website: https://scipfinance.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbrzeski/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RebuildingLAafterthefires

Email: pr@scipfinance.com

Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelo Paul Tagama

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.