A year after the devastating Eaton fire tore through Altadena, California, the historic Black community is battling a new threat: climate gentrification. Real estate investors have been aggressively pursuing land from survivors, with many receiving calls within days of losing their homes.
Ellen Williams, a lifelong Altadena resident, lost her home of 22 years and three other family properties in the fire. She received the first investor call just two days after the blaze. 'Immediately people saw dollar signs,' she said. The calls have continued, with one coming as recently as yesterday.
The Eaton fire killed 19 people and destroyed about 9,500 buildings. A UCLA report found that Black households were disproportionately affected: 61% were in the fire perimeter, compared to 50% of non-Black households, and 48% of Black homes were destroyed or severely damaged, versus 37% for non-Black homes. This disparity is linked to historical redlining, which pushed Black families into areas more prone to fire.
Many longtime residents are financially strained by insurance issues and high rebuilding costs, forcing them to sell land at a discount. Meanwhile, investors have snapped up nearly half the empty lots sold after the fire, according to a recent survey. Signs reading 'Altadena is not for sale' now dot the neighbourhood.
Williams and her family plan to return, but she acknowledges others cannot withstand the pressure. 'It was a good opportunity for investors to come in, so that’s exactly what they did,' she said. 'How dare you? Within days of people losing their homes you want to give them an offer.'
