What is 'climate gentrification' in Altadena?

'Climate gentrification' refers to displacement of long-term residents, especially Black families in Altadena, due to increased real estate investment following climate-related disasters like wildfires.

How are Altadena wildfire survivors affected by investors?

Wildfire survivors in Altadena are receiving aggressive offers from real estate investors shortly after losing homes, pressuring them to sell their land due to financial hardship and rebuilding challenges.

What role did redlining play in the Altadena fires?

Historical redlining practices pushed Black families into fire-prone areas west of Lake Avenue in Altadena, making them more vulnerable to the Eaton fire's damage and subsequent displacement.

Home / Disasters and Accidents / Altadena: Black Community Faces 'Climate Gentrification'

Altadena: Black Community Faces 'Climate Gentrification'

18 Jan

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Summary

Investors aggressively pursue land from wildfire survivors in Altadena.
'Climate gentrification' is displacing historic Black residents after fires.
Insurance issues and rebuilding costs push survivors to sell their land.

Altadena: Black Community Faces 'Climate Gentrification'

In Altadena, a historic Black community, wildfire survivors face immense pressure from real estate investors seeking to buy their land. Following the Eaton fire, which destroyed thousands of buildings, residents like Ellen Williams received offers just days after losing their homes, highlighting what experts term 'climate gentrification.'

Many long-time residents are financially strained due to insurance complexities and the prohibitive cost of rebuilding. This economic precarity, exacerbated by historical redlining that pushed Black families into fire-prone areas, forces them to sell their properties at a loss. Investors, conversely, see opportunities in cleared land for development.

The situation threatens to reshape Altadena, a sanctuary for Black families. Despite efforts by local organizations and government assistance, many survivors struggle with delayed or underpaid insurance claims, leaving a significant financial gap for rebuilding and potentially forcing them to accept unfavorable compensation offers.