THE VERDUGOS CUSTOM HOME BUILDER & GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Built With Intention. Foothill Character Preserved.
HOMES IN THE VERDUGOS ARE BUILT DIFFERENTLY
Heart Construction is a general contractor serving The Verdugos, specializing in custom homes, full renovations, and foothill rebuilds and hillside remodels. We work with homeowners, architects, engineers and designers through organized pre-construction, transparent budgeting and steady execution.
Building in The Verdugos isn't simple.
Here, your address decides your rulebook: LA County Public Works in Altadena and La Crescenta-Montrose, the City of Glendale, the City of Pasadena, the City of La Cañada Flintridge, and LADBS in Sunland and Tujunga, each with its own review layers.
On top of that come hillside grading rules, protected oaks, historic district review, Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone construction standards and floor-area limits. Sequencing matters, because one missed review can reset months.
Our role is to guide the process from first call to closeout, so every decision feels informed, not reactive.
From fire rebuilds in Altadena and hillside custom homes to character-preserving remodels and detached ADUs, we bring the same structure and discipline we apply across The Verdugos and every project in Los Angeles.
RECENT PROJECTS
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![Malibu Pier home interior featuring a warm modern living space with built-in seating, layered textures, custom wood furniture, and an open layout flowing into a minimalist kitchen, showcasing Heart Construction’s intentional coastal design.]()
MALIBU PIER
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![Pacific Palisades ocean-view backyard with custom pool, palm trees, lounge seating, and manicured lawn overlooking the Pacific coastline.]()
MALIBU
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![Marina del Rey home interior with warm modern design featuring a natural wood dining table, sculptural pendant lighting, plaster walls, and an open kitchen with custom cabinetry, showcasing Heart Construction’s intentional coastal craftsmanship.]()
MARINA DEL REY
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![Open-concept living room in a Hollywood Hills home remodel with folding glass walls, custom built-ins, soft neutral furnishings, and seamless indoor-outdoor flow overlooking canyon views, showcasing Heart Construction’s warm modern design.]()
HOLLYWOOD HILLS
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![Pacific Palisades luxury bathroom with freestanding soaking tub, marble walk-in shower, herringbone tile walls, and sculptural glass chandelier framed by natural light and greenery views.]()
BRENTWOOD
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![Pacific Palisades modern custom home with smooth stucco façade, black-framed windows, vertical wood garage door, and drought-tolerant landscaping.]()
MAR VISTA
OUR REMODELING SERVICES
At Heart Construction, we specialize in creating thoughtfully designed homes that reflect the way you live. From custom ground-up builds to full-scale renovations and refined living spaces, we guide every project with craftsmanship, clarity and care for homeowners in Santa Monica Mountains, Northwest County, Northeast LA and beyond.
OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY THE VERDUGOS PROCESS
PLAN
First a Strategic Visioning Session: A conversation about your goals, budget and timeline, and a frank read on what your Malibu site will allow. Complimentary.
TEAM
Second we assemble the architect, structural and geotechnical engineers, civil engineer, biologist and designers your project needs — matched to your style and site's constraints.
CALL
Third a Professional Services Agreement and a small retainer begin feasibility, permitting strategy, design coordination and line-by-line budgeting.
PERMITS
We assemble and file the complete CDP and building-permit package, coordinate Fire and Environmental Health reviews, and lock scope, finishes and schedule before groundbreaking.
CONSTRUCTION
Milestone-based build. Change orders are priced and approved in writing before work begins. You get a weekly update every week — progress, decisions needed, what's next.
CLOSEOUT
Finally Walkthrough with Final inspections, punch list, documentation and warranty handover. Payments are tied to completed milestones, never arbitrary percentages.
After you contact us, Within one business day, Asaf will call to understand your property and goals. If it's a fit, we schedule a site visit. There's no obligation and no pressure — just a clear picture of what's possible.
What to Know Before
You Build in The Verdugos
Pace is set by which building department holds your file and how many review layers sit ahead of plan check. Routine permits run 3–6 months. Projects with hillside, design or historic review, or fire-zone review run 6–12 months. Custom home construction then takes 10–16 months. The lever that protects your schedule is a complete first submittal, with surveys, geotechnical and arborist work finished before design begins.
What It Costs
Costs here sit where they do because foothill lots call for hillside engineering, ignition-resistant assemblies and, in older districts, materials that match the original house. Custom homes typically run $550–$900+ per sq ft; whole-home renovations $375–$650+ per sq ft; detached ADUs $275,000–$500,000+; pools $120,000–$340,000+. Soft costs — design, geotechnical and arborist studies, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Permits, Rules & Fire Codes
Permits come from LA County Public Works, the City of Glendale, the City of Pasadena, the City of La Cañada Flintridge or LADBS, depending on the parcel. Hillside permits, tree permits and neighborhood-compatibility limits layer on top. Fire-zone construction standards and residential sprinklers are our base specification, not upgrades. In historic districts, street-visible changes go before a preservation commission. We sequence all of this from feasibility, so design decisions are made with the constraints known.
Where We Build in The Verdugos
We build in Altadena, Glendale, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena, La Crescenta-Montrose and Sunland — from blocks near the Alex Theatre and Castle Green to oak-shaded foothills near Descanso Gardens. In Pasadena, Bungalow Heaven's small landmark-district lots put the facade under review, while Linda Vista's half-acre hillside lots are governed by slope, soils and a hearing officer. Not sure which rules apply to your parcel? A feasibility review answers that in two to four weeks.
Meet the Builders Behind Your Project
Asaf Bar-Hen — Co-Founder & Developer Asaf leads design and development from concept to completion. His background spans 15 years in hospitality design, seven years in renewable energy and energy-efficient building, and real-estate work across the U.S., Asia and Central America. He leads every first call and brings a sustainability lens that aligns naturally with Malibu's coastal and fire-resilience standards.
Jason Aizenberg — Co-Founder Jason runs the operational side of every project — permits, design meetings, scheduling, subcontractor coordination and site logistics. Clients describe him as the person who "managed everything so we could focus on our family.”
California Contractors State License Board #1146456 — Class B General Building Contractor. Verify on CSLB ↗
25+ years of combined experience across high-end residential construction in Los Angeles
Frequently Asked Questions
About Renovation in The Verdugos
Who issues my permit?
It depends on your address. Altadena and La Crescenta-Montrose go through LA County Public Works, while Glendale, Pasadena and La Canada Flintridge each run their own city departments. Sunland and Tujunga fall under LADBS. We confirm your jurisdiction and review layers on the first call.
How long does a permit take?
Routine permits typically take 3–6 months. Projects with hillside, design or historic review, or fire-zone review take 6–12 months. Construction for a custom home then runs 10–16 months. A complete first submittal is the biggest lever, because correction cycles are where months are lost.
Cost to build a home here?
Custom homes typically run $550–$900+ per sq ft. Hillside engineering, fire-zone construction and historic-compatible materials push toward the upper end, and soft costs are additional. See our custom home cost guide for detail. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
What do hillside lots require?
Expect geotechnical work first. Pasadena requires a Hillside Development Permit for any new dwelling or first-floor addition of 500 sq ft or more. La Canada Flintridge requires one on lots averaging 15% slope or more, with story poles. Glendale's R1R zone asks for a landscaping plan on slopes steeper than 2:1.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Heart Construction holds California Contractors State License Board license #1146456 and is bonded and insured for large-scale residential construction, major remodels and structural work. You can verify the license on the CSLB website.
Guides for The Verdugos homeowners:
- Altadena Fire Rebuild Guide 2026: Permits, Timelines & Requirements
- ADU Los Angeles: Is It Right for Your Property?
- Second Story vs Home Addition in Los Angeles: What Actually Works
Nearby areas we serve: Santa Monica Mountains · Northwest County · Northeast LA · Antelope Valley · The Eastside · Harbor
Region: Everywhere we build