Who rebuilds LA? Planning post-fire recovery with Dr. Minjee Kim

When disaster strikes, it reveals not just the vulnerabilities in our built environment—but also the opportunity to rebuild with more intention. In the wake of the devastating LA wildfires earlier this year, conversations about recovery have expanded into questions of long-term resiliency, equitable redevelopment, and what kind of governance structures are needed to get there.

To unpack these issues, Dr. Minjee Kim, an Assistant Professor in Urban Planning at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, joins the podcast. Dr. Kim’s research sits at the intersection of real estate development, public finance, and urban planning—making her uniquely suited to guide us through this moment. She’s advised the LA County Blue Ribbon Commission on post-fire recovery and authored a memo exploring how LA could structure a redevelopment authority modeled after efforts San Francisco's Transbay Joint Powers Authority, New York City's Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, and Cincinnati's Center City Development Corporation.

Kate and Dr. Kim discuss what LA can learn from past large-scale recovery efforts, how different governance models impact land use outcomes, and why we must think beyond parcel-by-parcel rebuilding if we want to build a more resilient, equitable future.

Resources:

LA's Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire-Safe Recovery (LA County)

How do you rebuild a place like the Palisades? (NYT)

The next stage of rebuilding the Palisades is here: Burned lots for sale (NYT)

Permitting Progress Dashboard (LA County)

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