Around 30 residents attended (Photo – Melissa Michelson)
Residents gathered at the Altadena Library for an information session exploring the potential of establishing a Community Land Trust (CLT) in the area.
By Melissa Michelson
The event, held on April 29, 2025, in collaboration with Pasadenans Organizing for Progress (POP), is part of a broader series aimed at educating communities on housing justice and anti-gentrification tools.
With around 30 attendees present, the 2.5-hour session highlighted how CLTs operate as collective, democratic models designed to fight displacement, prevent real estate speculation, and provide long-term affordable housing. Affordable homes, condos, commercial properties, and even green spaces can become a CLT, and panelists pointed to successful examples in Lahaina, Boston, Leimert Park, and Koreatown.
A key feature of CLTs, the panel noted, is their tripartite governance structure—composed equally of residents, community members, and service providers—who collectively make decisions guided by the trust’s unique legal stipulations and bylaws.
Organizers hope the event will spark further interest and momentum toward forming a CLT in Altadena, giving families the opportunity to remain in their neighborhoods amid rising housing costs.
Is Altadena ready for a CLT? The conversation has begun. The video of the session can be seen at this link.
Panel (Photo – Melissa Michelson)
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