Tina Knowles, mom to Beyoncé, is mourning the loss of her “sacred happy place” after her oceanfront Malibu bungalow was destroyed in the Palisades fire.
The Wildfires
“To the people who lost their homes and belongings, I can only imagine how it feels to lose properties and everything you own ! My heart and deep prayers go out to all of you ❤️,” she wrote. “I cannot imagine the pain and suffering and fear that you are enduring.. I am praying diligently for our beautiful City of Los Angeles !! We are resilient though and we will recover! ‘This too shall pass’❤️,” Knowles wrote on Instagram alongside a serene video of dolphins swimming near her home.
She thanked firefighters for their bravery and extended heartfelt condolences to others affected by the Los Angeles fires.
The photo attached to the post, was captured just days before the fire on her 71st birthday on Jan. 4.
“This is what I was looking at on my birthday this past weekend from my tiny little bungalow on the water in Malibu! It was my favorite place, my sanctuary, my sacred Happy Place. Now it is gone !!” she captioned the post.
Knowles is one of hundreds who have lost property due to the fires. More devastatingly, at least 10 people have been killed so far. And, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said at a press briefing on Jan. 9, the Palisades fire had burned 17,234 acres.
In the midst of losing her L.A.-area property, the Cécred executive, has lost her Galveston, Texas, property, as it has been foreclosed on by the bank and will be demolished. It too was damaged due to a natural disaster.
When Hurricane Ike struck Galveston Island in 2008, it left more than devastation in its wake— it created a 16-year saga involving one of America’s most prominent entertainment families, frustrated neighbors, and a deteriorating $1.4 million beach house that’s now literally sliding into the sea.
The property, owned by global superstar Beyoncé’s mother Tina Knowles, has become an unexpected case study in how natural disasters can create long-term community challenges, even for high-net-worth property owners. After years of complaints and mounting safety concerns, the city of Galveston has finally issued a demolition notice for the structure.
“The home has been an issue for a long time, and it’s been in disrepair since Hurricane Ike,” explains Galveston City Council member Marie Robb, who resides in the affected neighborhood, according to Fox 26 Houston.
“The city is moving forward with a demolition order,” Robb added.
The Troubled Timeline
The beachfront property was once a symbol of luxury living because of its prime location in the Pirates Beach community. Over the last two decades, it has undergone a dramatic transformation. Hurricane Ike’s impact not only damaged the structure but also eroded the beach underneath it, leaving the home precariously close to the water. While some repairs were attempted over the years, local residents report that the house has continued to deteriorate.
James Munoz, a Pirates Beach resident, describes the severity of the Knowles property’s disrepair and how he is affected as a community member.
“On the other side there’s pilings you can actually see through,” he said. “The slab has fallen. It’s fallen worse just from last week’s storm.”
The property’s condition has become so concerning that even at low tide, the structural damage is evident, with high tides now reaching the foundation of the house.
Why the Property Is Being Destroyed
Robb said the state of Texas offered Beyoncé Knowles $450,000 to relocate her home after it sustained damage from a natural disaster. However, no action was taken on the property, according to the Daily Mail.
The decision to demolish comes at a critical juncture. Recent foreclosure proceedings resulted in the property going to auction, but with no sufficient bids received, it was ultimately acquired by the bank this week, local station Fox 26 reported.
Mother Nature Doesn’t Care, But Homeowners Must
Natural disasters can create long-term complications that extend far beyond initial damage assessments. Even properties owned by wealthy individuals can become community burdens if not properly maintained or restored after catastrophic events.
The importance of having clear protocols for handling abandoned or deteriorating luxury properties in coastal communities cannot be overstated. For Galveston officials, the decision to demolish represents a necessary step in addressing both safety concerns and community aesthetics.
As neighbor D’Antoni succinctly puts it, “I mean obviously, it’s a little bit of an eyesore. Depending upon your perspective, a lot of an eyesore.”
For Galveston residents, the impending demolition marks the end of a chapter they’re more than ready to close.
