Ridge housing rising
Construction continues among coronavirus woes, steep costs
PARADISE » After a second year of obstacles rebuilding the ridge, residents fear costs are rising, but town leaders say they are doing all they can to help people rebuild as quickly as possible.
The coronavirus pandemic slowed down building and increased material shortages and costs across California — but not in Paradise, according to Town Manager Kevin Phillips.
“We’re still getting that push of people rebuilding on their lots,” he said Tuesday. While the cost of building ”is going up everywhere in the state,” Phillips said applications and permits issued in Paradise continue to grow.
The lack of materials and labor was expected due to high demand, he said. And while building “stick” (from scratch) homes is more expensive then prefabricated homes, he said it hasn’t prevented a variety of homes from being built.
The town is working to draw more new residents — and businessess — from other areas, Phillips said.
“Hopefully … if people get out of more metropolitan areas, we can be that safe haven for them to have a little more room and more property to own.”
Some residents of the town feel differently and said the costs to rebuild are actually discouraging.
Former renter Cinda Larimer said she can’t afford the costs to build a home, and thinks the Town Council is ”doing a major disservice to the people who used to live here.”
The costs, particularly for building a home from the ground up, are not worth investing in the community for Larimer as it is “not a place you come to live and work and make major money.”
Samantha Hohenthaner said she rebuilt her home alone as a single mother of four.
“I have had to do basically everything myself,” she said. “I was unaware I needed to save money for plumbing, electrical, septic, adding fill dirt, etc. I bought my modular and thought the battle was over.
“The battle is and was so far from over. But I’m doing it.”
Angie Derryberry, a homeowner in upper Magalia, said living in the county, she had to be self-reliant and navigate different messages from the county and nearby town.
Derryberry cannot afford to rebuild what she had from scratch (a one bedroom home would cost around $300,000) and lives in a 40-foot fifth wheel trailer on her property until a settlement from PG&E comes in. She is determined not to place a prefabricated home on her lot.
But there are lower costs to build prefabricated (a “stick” permit is $ 5,000 and a prefabricated permit is $2,500) and she and many others are left waiting to know what they will receive from PG& E before making a decision.
”It’s very discouraging,” Derryberry said.
Asking for change
When Steve Crowder was selected as mayor in November, some felt it reflected a shift in priorities as voters asked for changes in the rebuilding process, and in city leadership. The council has been embroiled in public criticism for much of the year, as confusion, costs and frustration among those still in trailers mount.
Crowder, who lost his home and business in the Camp Fire, said ” There’s a lot of differences of opinion. Before the fire, we were doing maybe 25 new building permits a year.”
Now, building in the town limits seems relentless. As of Dec. 16, 1,239
building permits had been issued of 1,401 received, with 532 homes rebuilt. Though the sewer district will take years, there have been 234 multi-family unit permits issued of 289 received, and 70 have been rebuilt.
“We’re doing pretty well,” Crowder said. “Yeah, we’ve made some mistakes along the way. But we’re writing a playbook. No other town’s been through this with 90% of the town ruined.”
Crowder’s own home is rebuilt, and he has lived in it since May. He said he wishes people would understand why rebuilding
homes in compliance with 2017 California building codes is necessary, no matter how old their previous home was.
The council understands materials are in high demand with prices higher than ever, he said.
“Part of the problem is before the fire, you could build a home in Paradise for about $150 a foot. And we went almost overnight to $250 a foot,” he said.
“There are a lot of things people are facing. We can’t control most of them, but when we can, we do try to help.”
There’s a lot to look forward to for those living in the town limits, he said. Advancements on the sewer district will bring new busi
nesses to the ridge, as well as more housing.
Crowder added he doesn’t mind living “in a construction zone.”
“I love hearing the sound of construction because it’s also the sound of progress and moving forward,” he said.
Some are pleased with working with the town. Homeowner Susan Davis said she has lived in her rebuilt home for three months.
“The standards for housing may seem cumbersome but they are important for the safety of everyone who lives here,” Davis said. “Paradise has a unique opportunity to make important changes in safety standards, aesthetics, evacua
tion routes, and other important elements that will enhance the safety and beauty of the town.”
Some who don’t live in the town limits sometimes wish they did. Tonya Messner lives in a Magalia neighborhood where “everything burned” and rebuilding has been slow as dealing with the county is a different process.
A former renter, she and husband Richard moved onto her parents’ property, and since February they have occupied a 26-foot residence, waiting for approval to build and place a prefabricated home.
After many delays, that home will finally arrive after Jan. 1, she said.
Messner said there have been many steps that took longer living outside town limits as they rely on the county for approvals. It took six months to build the prefabricated home once her loan was approved. The couple is excited to finally see their home once it is approved for transport from Oregon over the holidays.
While relieved to get out of a trailer into a house, Messner said she is frustrated with the whole process — “We’ve been waiting for over two years now to just get a home.”
“I’m done, I just want my house,” Richard Messner added.