Santa Rosa fire evacuees fear they can’t afford to return to their homes and some can’t even find out what it will cost to rebuild. Meanwhile, rents are soaring after the fire that ravaged the wine country city last month.
The Los Angeles Times reported that rents were surging as high as $13,000 a month and, in areas such as Coffey Park where about 40 percent of the burned-out residents are renting, the future of many was uncertain.
“My landlord said he plans to rebuild,” said 62-year-old Coffee Park resident Sharon Ditmore, who ran a day-care business out of her home.
“If I can afford to move back, I will. But like so many others, I’ll have to wait and see.”
Napa and Sonoma Counties were the hardest hit in the fires that swept across northern California in October, CNN reported.
About 3,000 houses were destroyed in Santa Rosa, which was home to some 160,000 people, and a large section of the town was evacuated.
Driving through these streets hoping that my friends and family’s houses survived is something that will change my heart forever. So much loss, memories smoldering, pain on people’s faces, everything gone in a second. To those who have suffered please do not hesitate to ask for help, I have faith that our city will unite and support those in need. Clothes, blankets, shoes, food, a place to shower or sleep, anything...reach out and we will extend our hands. #prayforsantarosa #prayforcalifornia #prayforourfuture #prayforourneighbors Song: Jason Walker-Shouldn’t be a good in goodbye *Please feel free repost!!* #prayformycity
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Residents in areas such as Coffee Park are concerned that their beloved town will be rebuilt as something completely different and that they won't be able to ever return home.
“It’s chaos here because we’ve got big issues with big cost considerations — and no plan in place to tackle them,” said Keith Christopherson, owner of a construction company that built homes destroyed in the Santa Rosa fire, according to the Times.
“When people ask what it’ll cost to rebuild their homes, I say, ‘I don’t know,’ to keep their spirits up,” he said.
“But the truth is that costs and rent payments will be pushed up by code upgrades and severe shortages of local available housing, labor and basic building materials such as wall board, concrete and paint.”
Shirlee Zane, chairwoman of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, explained that property taxes accounted for a third of the town’s budget and was a major source of revenue.
Having lost that meant that all residents would be affected, she said.
Adding to their woes, owners of property destroyed in the fire had until Monday to join the government’s clean-up program, after that they would have to take restoration into their own hands, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported.
The success of the clean-up could directly influence the pace of recovery at Coffee Park and homes remaining covered in toxic debris would be considered a public nuisance.
Property owners failing to miss the deadline would be financially responsible for cleaning up their home sites.
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