Economists in Hawaii warn that residents who survived the wildfire that destroyed much of the Maui community of Lahaina might not be able to afford to live there after it is rebuilt unless officials alter the zoning laws and make other changes.
  • @alienanimals
    -5•1 year ago

    Did they not have insurance? Shouldn’t they have ample money to rebuild? I don’t understand.

    • SlowNPC
      20•1 year ago

      “Market prices for this new housing are likely to far exceed the already high prices that existed in Lahaina before the fire. For renters, the old housing stock that was destroyed provided opportunities for reasonable rents,”

      I think this is the issue. Poor folks live in older buildings. Can’t rebuild new old, run-down cheap neighborhoods.

      • @alienanimals
        2•1 year ago

        I’m so sorry my questions upset you. Have you tried not being butthurt?

        • @[email protected]English
          2•1 year ago

          Your questions didn’t upset me; they’re answered plainly in the article you’re responding to.

          The issue isn’t people who own the property not being able to rebuild, the issue is people who were renting there likely being unable to afford to rent there after it’s rebuilt, because the prices were previously low due to the age of the buildings, and it’s almost entirely not zoned for multi-family dwellings.

          If you aren’t even going to read the article you’re talking about, how are we supposed to interpret your questions, if not as being stupid?