Echere Williams always believed that she owned a home she ultimately rented in a neighborhood in the historic Janes village of Altadena.
The 1920s cottage brought his son Braden home from the hospital, hosting a backyard party for birthdays and anniversaries that family and friends wanted to celebrate. Her mom lived apart from the block. Her three sisters were not that far away.
When Eton Fire destroyed the house she called home for nearly 17 years, she received a suggestion from her landlord. Williams said he was told that if he could pay $565,000, all the cash, he could close within 15 days, he could have a burned lot.
“The 47-year-old therapist and consultant williams.
According to real estate agents, Flames destroyed thousands of homes in most middle-class Altadena in January, making it available for sale rather than rebuilding, with more than 80 property owners selling them, with many of the developers being developers.
It raises concern among some community members that when building expensive new homes, developers will lead a wave of gentrification that at least partially wipe out the architectural, racial and economic diversity that is characteristic of a small town under San Gabriel Mountains.
A group of nonprofits is trying to blunt these economic strengths.
First, they are trying to keep residents in Altadena through grants and other assistance that allow homeowners to rebuild, especially if they are uninsured or uninsured. If someone wants to sell in the end, the group wants to be there to acquire the land to stop the escalation of home prices.
Echere Williams stands where her home once stood, which was once destroyed by Eton Fire.
(Jason Armand/Los Angeles Times)
Williams benefited from both efforts. She said she could qualify for a mortgage to buy a $565,000 home, but she didn’t have that money in cash, let alone more money to rebuild the house.
So, when she received an offer from her landlord, Williams turned to Los Angeles County’s nonprofit Housing Services.
Neighborhood housing services will purchase it via burnt-out lots in April, and build a new home on site and sell it to Williams at an affordable price.
Lori Gay, chief executive of Los Angeles County Neighborhood Housing Services, said she and the coalition of nonprofits are trying to raise more money to buy hundreds of burning properties, build them in homes, and sell them to people in Altadena at a price they could ideally buy.
Disaster recovery efforts say home prices escalation is common after fires and hurricanes, as many families hit walls during the reconstruction process and sold them to developers and wealthy families who built more expensive homes.
“We don’t want investors or anyone who gets really high incomes coming in and raises prices,” Gay said.
In Altadena, many community members bought their homes decades ago and can afford today’s typical home value of $1.3 million.
Given the economic disparities of the country, there was particularly concern about the dispersal of the long-standing black community in Altadena, focusing on the western side of the town due to its segregation and redline history.
Black residents had already been separated for gentlemen before the fire, and saw their homes being severely damaged or destroyed at a higher rate than other groups during the flames.
The Williams family was among them. Not only did Echere lose his home, he also lost two sisters who owned the house and were trying to find funds to rebuild.
One potential option is the Green Line Housing Foundation, based in Pasadena. It focuses on providing financial support to displaced and Hispanic homeowners, citing “historical systemic inequality and lack of access to resources.”
This group also acquired two lots. It has the idea to resell below the market to people in Altadena who want to stay.
“It’s just a community,” said Jasmine Schpper, founder of Green Line, citing her fears that an influx of developers would dramatically change “Altadena fabric.”
Some details regarding the nonprofit land acquisition, including how different groups work together, have yet to be resolved. But Schpper said he needs to raise more money quickly.
“It’s important to organize this long-term vision,” she said. “But without fast capital right now, there’s nothing left, so that’s not a problem.”
For Williams, she sees it as an opportunity to build generational wealth and looks forward to continuing her family legacy in Altadena.
Her decision may already have an impact. Williams said she recently met one evacuated neighbor in the ’70s.
The woman told Williams that she suspected she would return after losing her home.
“The only way I might rethink is whether you’ll become my neighbor,” the woman said.
“Well, I’m going to be your neighbor again,” Williams replied.
The woman then burst into tears and said, “I’m definitely coming back.”
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