Leading Voices in Real Estate Lew Horne & David Waite | The Los Angeles Wildfires
Jul 22, 2025
Lew Horne, President of CBRE for Greater LA, and David Waite, Partner at Cox, Castle, & Nicholson LLP, dive into the aftermath of the January 2025 wildfires. They discuss the Project Recovery report, exploring community responses and rebuilding strategies. The conversation highlights innovative approaches to streamline permitting, including AI tools and self-certification. They emphasize the importance of collaborative efforts and trust between sectors to ensure efficient recovery while advocating for a 'build back better' philosophy that focuses on equity and resilience.
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Coffee Park vs Paradise Fire Recovery
- Coffee Park near Sonoma rebuilt 1,200 homes in three years with expedited permitting.
- Contrast with Paradise Fire's seven years and fewer than 4,000 out of 18,000 homes rebuilt.
Trust Builds Recovery Collaboration
- ULI panel acted proactively without official client, treating city and county as clients to deliver trusted recommendations.
- Collaboration and trust from public and private sectors are essential in disaster recovery.
Focus Your Recovery Role
- Stay focused on core real estate expertise: debris removal, infrastructure, and rebuilding.
- Avoid distraction from itinerant crisis specialists to maintain credibility and impact.