The middle-class dream of living in picturesque Pacific Palisades was forever altered by the devastating fire that ravaged the Tahitian Terrace mobile home park. Nestled behind a terraced hillside off Pacific Coast Highway, this hidden gem offered residents, many of them in their golden years, a slice of paradise with quaint homes and sweeping ocean views. Residents like Barbara Corcoran, the “Shark Tank” star, and John “J.B.” Borris, a retired Air Force colonel, called this place home.
However, on January 7th, the Palisades fire roared through, leaving only ashes and memories in its wake. The fire, which gutted 158 homes in Tahitian Terrace and 170 in the adjacent Palisades Bowl park, not only destroyed properties but also shattered the hopes of many who feared being priced out of the affluent Palisades neighborhood, where homes typically fetch over $3.4 million. In Tahitian Terrace, residents owned their homes but rented the land, benefiting from rent-controlled plots that provided a semblance of stability in an otherwise pricey locale.
The eclectic mix of residents in Tahitian Terrace mirrored the diversity of the community, from established retirees to young families starting out. Families like Brandon and Swea Zamel, who cherished the multigenerational ties to the park, and Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Aleksander Edwards, who found solace in the tight-knit community, faced the harsh reality of losing their homes and cherished possessions in the fire. The Zamels, who had roots in the park dating back to Brandon’s childhood, sifted through the rubble, salvaging mementos and grappling with the enormity of their loss.
The aftermath of the fire painted a stark picture of resilience and heartbreak as residents grappled with rebuilding their lives from the ashes. The Zamels, like many others, faced the daunting task of starting anew, grappling with the loss of their homes, schools, and cherished belongings. The Zamels’ poignant story, marked by the bittersweet gift of a Hello Kitty mug from their sons and the promise of replanting Max’s tomato seeds, encapsulated the profound impact of the fire on families and the community at large.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the future of Tahitian Terrace, residents like Borris and Edwards expressed a steadfast commitment to returning to the place they once called home. Borris’s defiant banner, proclaiming “WE WILL RISE FROM THE ASHES,” and Edwards’s unwavering hope of rebuilding in the park underscored the resilience and spirit of the community. As discussions about the park’s fate continue, the fate of Tahitian Terrace hangs in the balance, with hopes of preserving its legacy as an affordable haven in the heart of Pacific Palisades.
