Starting Over in Altadena: Resident helps community rebuild homes after fire
Altadena resident Rebecca Zandovskis is helping families rebuild after the Eaton Fire through her work with Genesis Builders, a company that offers a program to help homeowners return to their community faster and easier.
For Zandovskis, the work is personal. She also lost her home in the fire and is currently rebuilding with Genesis. She explained that she was at work when she first heard about the fires and rushed home to find ashes and burning palm fronds falling into her neighborhood. She quickly grabbed her dogs and left with her husband.
“It was growing and growing … I just barely made it to get into the car and leave,” she said. “There was no time to really save anything except for ourselves and our pets.”
They checked into a hotel that night, and hours later, at around 4 a.m., a neighbor texted her that their homes were gone. Almost her entire neighborhood had burned, with only a few houses left standing that eventually burned down too.
“I think everybody is still moving a little bit slow because of the initial shock and just the initial emotions that are behind it,” she said. “It wasn’t a question of if they’re going to rebuild. They all want to rebuild, it’s just the how.”
Zandovskis previously worked for Cityview, a multifamily developer and sister company of Genesis. After losing her home, she realized how confusing and overwhelming the rebuilding process could be for residents who had never planned for anything like this, and she wanted to support others going through the same thing.
That’s when she joined Genesis Builders as senior director of business development. Now, she assists families with the rebuilding process, helping them navigate pricing, timelines and floor plans.
Rebuilding her own home also gave her firsthand experience with the challenges. She had first looked into custom options and met contractors whose plans did not work with her insurance.
“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, how am I going to afford this?”’ she said. “And then along came … Genesis … I can rebuild because of the price point and how quickly they can get us moved into our new home.”
So how exactly can Genesis Builders help? Through a comprehensive program that simplifies the process, Zandovskis explained. The company uses pre-approved designs that meet county requirements, and their team handles architectural drawings, grading, drainage, surveys, interiors and even appliances, while still offering room for personal customization.
She also said fixed pricing is a big relief for families with limited insurance. “Once you sign a contract, the price is what it is,” Zandovskis said. “So that’s another reason I went with Genesis, because I don’t want to — halfway through the build — be told that I need another $50,000.”
Zandovskis began her own rebuild at the end of August and expects her home to be completed by the end of 2026. She chose a two-story Mediterranean-style design after learning she could rebuild at a similar or slightly larger size without a complicated approval process.
“Having somebody that can literally hold your hand through the process … and somebody that has gone through this, we can help you with all your questions, from start to finish,” she said. “You get the same people from the day you call me to the day we hand you your keys to move into your home.”
