Palisades Rebuilds Amid Heated Affordable Housing Debate

In Pacific Palisades, a proposed affordable housing project by developer Justin Kohanoff is causing significant controversy among affluent residents as the community rebuilds after devastating wildfires. Kohanoff plans to replace a destroyed gas station with an eight-story building containing up to 100 apartments, some designated for low-income households. While he expresses excitement about the project, many residents fear that introducing affordable housing will diminish property values and prioritize low-income development over rebuilding single-family homes. Billionaire developer Rick Caruso argues that the push for affordable housing comes from external interests, distracting from essential recovery efforts. The opposition reflects broader tensions between preserving neighborhood exclusivity and the urgent need for affordable housing in a region with a critical shortage. Amidst this conflict, former tenants of lost rent-controlled units face uncertainty in the current housing landscape.