Rebuilding Responsibly

Dear Eastwick Friend,

Welcome to the Final Edition of Our First EFNC Newsletter Series! Thank you for reading. Please visit our main newsletter site to see all articles in this series.

Every week, the Eastwick Friends & Neighbors Coalition (EFNC) brings you updates, insights, and stories that spotlight the challenges and victories shaping our community. Over the past four weeks, we’ve explored how the Southern California wildfires echo many of the same issues we face here in Eastwick—from environmental injustice to policy failures.

In this final installment of our first series, we turn our attention to the path forward: Rebuilding Responsibly. We’ll look at what it means to approach land development with care, prioritize environmental advocacy, and center community voices in every decision. As Eastwick continues to face the threat of flooding and displacement, the question isn’t just if we rebuild—but how and for whom.

And as always, don’t miss our "From the Archives" section at the end, where we share past articles that connect our history to the work ahead. Let’s continue building a future that honors both our people and our planet.

Letter #4: Rebuilding Responsibly - Land Development and Environmental Advocacy

When disaster strikes, rebuilding is inevitable. But how we rebuild—and who gets a say in that process—determines whether communities recover stronger or remain vulnerable to future catastrophes.

Eastwick residents have long known the consequences of unchecked development. For decades, city-led urban renewal projects have reshaped the neighborhood, often without considering the environmental impact. Located in a FEMA-designated floodplain, Eastwick has seen firsthand how poor land-use planning and profit-driven decisions can increase the risks of natural disasters rather than mitigate them. Now, with recent environmental challenges mirroring larger national disasters, the community is once again demanding to be heard.

Wildfires in California have provided a stark example of what happens when rebuilding efforts prioritize speed and economic interests over sustainability. Homes are reconstructed in high-risk zones with minimal changes to reduce future fire hazards. Developers push forward with new projects without addressing the environmental factors that made the area vulnerable in the first place. Insurance companies, seeing increased risk, either raise premiums or withdraw from the market entirely—leaving homeowners stranded.

The same patterns of reactive and reckless rebuilding are evident in flood-prone communities like Eastwick. Despite years of flooding, infrastructure improvements have lagged behind, and residents often have little input in how their neighborhood is developed. The fight isn’t just about rebuilding—it’s about rebuilding right.

Lessons from the Past: Why Environmental Advocacy Matters

When the Cobbs Creek Golf Course redevelopment began, developers argued that it would bring economic and recreational benefits to the community. What they didn’t mention was the removal of hundreds of trees—natural barriers that protected nearby neighborhoods from flooding. Eastwick residents warned that this would increase runoff and worsen an already dire flooding problem, but their concerns were largely ignored. The aftermath proved them right.

The same missteps are visible in wildfire recovery efforts. Instead of enforcing stricter building codes or increasing firebreaks, some California communities are approving projects that will leave residents just as exposed to future fires. Without meaningful policy changes, history will continue to repeat itself.

Advocating for Responsible Land Development in Eastwick

Eastwick has been at the center of land development debates for years. A major victory came in 2018 when the community successfully pushed for the Eastwick Public Lands Strategy, a framework aimed at ensuring responsible land use in one of the city’s most vulnerable areas.

The strategy emphasized:

✔ Preventing development in high-risk flood zones to avoid repeating past mistakes.
✔ Restoring natural buffers like wetlands and green spaces to absorb floodwaters.
✔ Ensuring community participation in planning processes so that residents—rather than developers—shape their own future.

This victory demonstrated the power of environmental advocacy, but it is only the beginning. With 128 acres of undeveloped land still in limbo, Eastwick’s future remains uncertain. Will it be used to create sustainable flood mitigation strategies? Or will it fall prey to another wave of profit-driven development? The answer depends on how hard the community is willing to fight.

​From the Archives

1. "Eastwick Public Lands Strategy"
   
   This article outlines the community-driven plan to ensure environmentally responsible land use in flood-prone Eastwick. It discusses the Eastwick Public Land Strategy, a feasibility study aimed at developing a preferred vision and development plan for vacant land in Eastwick. The strategy emphasizes the importance of community involvement in planning processes to ensure environmentally sustainable development. It aims to balance development with environmental considerations, reflecting principles of responsible land development and advocacy. Read here
   
   

2. "Eastwick Urban Renewal Agreement Ends, New Chapter Begins for Community"
   
   This article reports on the termination of a long-standing urban renewal agreement, marking a new chapter for Eastwick. It highlights the community's efforts to advocate for environmentally and socially sustainable development. The article underscores the importance of community engagement in planning processes to ensure responsible land development. Read here
   
   

3. "New Path for Eastwick Opens Up One Year After Termination of Urban-Renewal Agreement"
   
   This article reflects on the progress made in Eastwick one year after the termination of a long-standing urban renewal agreement. It discusses the community's ongoing efforts to engage in a planning process that prioritizes environmental considerations and responsible land development. Read here