The Foothill Catalog Foundation

12/23/2025

As we close out the year and approach the one-year anniversary of the Eaton and Palisades Fires, we’ve found ourselves reflecting on a range of emotions.

Sadness, for all that was lost.

Gratitude, for the way this community came together in the face of profound loss - to imagine, build, and implement real solutions - and for the support The Foothill Catalog has received throughout this year.

Hope, as we continue moving toward progress, recovery, and long-term resilience.

Just to name a few.

While there have been moments of beauty born out of tragedy, it has undeniably been a difficult year. So we hope that wherever you are, this season brings you moments of rest, comfort, peace, and light.

TFCF’s 2025 Holiday Card features the Billy, Figueroa II, and the Alice against the backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains. It designed and hand-drawn by our Design Intern, Rekel 🌟

12/17/2025

Updates on Pine with 🔨
The first of 22 homes built for Altadena families in partnership with the Altadena Build Back Foundation is coming along!

12/13/2025

TFCF’s first print! The Architectural Vernacular of the Foothills (11x14) features 7 homes, hand-drawn and watercolored by TFCF’s co-founder, Cynthia. The print highlights a few of the many architectural styles found in the foothill region.

For every print purchased during the month of December, we will be gifting a print to a fire survivor.

A limited number of prints are now available for purchase at www.foothillcatalog.org/shop

If you are a fire survivor interested in receiving a gifted print, please fill out the form at the link in the comment section below. 🤍

12/13/2025

Journal Entry #16 - The Governor’s Visit, Highlights, & TFCF’s First Print!

Governor Gavin Newsom Visits TFCF!

12/12/2025

Deeply moved by the resilient spirit of Los Angeles, from Altadena to the Palisades, as families who lost everything keep pushing forward.
Grateful to The Foothill Catalog Foundation and San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity for helping survivors rebuild.

So much more to do, and we won’t stop until the job is done.

12/09/2025

A 3D-printed floor plan with braille room names, created for a visually impaired homeowner and her family exploring The Alice. Her experience and feedback helped us recognize a gap in our materials, and inspired us to build more tactile, inclusive design tools.

It was so special to see her face light up as she placed her hand on the model. We’re grateful to have taken on this project, and it’s a model we plan to continue integrating moving forward.

A big shoutout to our Design Intern Pan, who worked on prototyping and developing the 3D model!

12/04/2025

“That’s it.”This is the reason we do what we do! Every fire survivor we meet has a powerful story, and we are grateful to Whitney for sharing hers.

Some snippets of Whitney’s story, and how she is rebuilding with a Foothill Catalog home - from an interview for the podcast “Rebuilding L.A.”

Listen to the full interview along with a conversation with TFCF co-founder Alex Athenson, link in our bio!

11/19/2025

A 45 second status update on current our pre-approvals, what’s coming up, and on the boards 💭📐✍️ Plus, a breakdown of what’s included in a pre-approved plan set!

11/18/2025

We’re excited to announce our partnership with on five home designs for the Pacific Palisades - the foundation of a new Catalog framework for the coastal community.

Join us this Friday, November 21st from 1–5pm at the Palisades Recovery Coalition to view the designs and learn more about Habitat LA’s Rebuild Assistance Program.

11/15/2025

In late October, TFCF Executive Director Alex Athenson, AIA gave a TED Talk at TEDxAltadena titled “Rebuilding the American Dream: The Return of the Catalog Home.”

His talk explores how catalog homes can help communities recover after disaster in a world where 1 in 70 Americans are displaced by natural disasters each year. It also highlights how the Foothill Catalog model reimagines this century-old idea for a more resilient future. A big thank-you to the TedxAltadena team for hosting such an inspiring day filled with stories of resilience, community, and innovation.

Watch the TED talk here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSTenL5GqRA (UPDATED LINK)

Architect Alex Athenson reimagines the Sears Catalog Home for today—showing how a century-old idea can help Altadena rebuild after disaster with equity, beau...

11/10/2025

The final Altadena Revealed of the year will be all about one of Altadena’s most cherished landmarks - Christmas Tree Lane! Join Mary Landau, Historian Director of the Christmas Tree Lane association as she recounts the Lane’s beginning, and a story of the power of community that keeps it glowing over 100 years later 🎄🎄🎄 Hosted at on November 21st!