Thumbs up: The sounds of construction in Fountaingrove

Two months ago, Santa Rosa residents cheered when they saw framing go up on the first Coffey Park home to be rebuilt since the October fires. The work on a three-bedroom, two-bathroom on Kerry Lane was a sign of hope amid the destruction of 3,000 residences. This month, we celebrate the same thing happening in Fountaingrove, where some 1,420 houses also were destroyed more than five months ago.

While concrete has been poured for a number of foundations in the neighborhood, framing has started on at least one two-story home on Shillingford Place.

Overall, of 119 homeowners who have started the permitting process in Santa Rosa, 56 have been approved. Of those, 25 have started construction. No, it’s not much, but it’s a start. And it’s better than where we were.

“You can’t look back,” said Ed Hamilton, owner of the Shillingford Place residence. “You’ve got to look forward.” Thumbs up to that.