Overview

• Castro has spent about $10 million acquiring roughly 15 fire-scorched parcels in his hometown following January’s Eaton and Palisades fires.
• He has submitted permit applications for the first two three-bedroom Craftsman-style homes that include additional dwelling units.
• The 33-year-old former architecture consultant says he does not plan to purchase more properties and views the project as a personal 10-year rebuild.
• Local reaction is divided, with a petition reported at nearly 1,500 signatures seeking to restrict investor purchases of burned lots.
• Altadena lost an estimated 9,000 structures in the fires, and rebuilding across the area remains slow due to insurance disputes and permitting hurdles.