Critics Accuse Local, State Governments of Distorting Eminent Domain Laws

FOX ^ | 3/18/02 | Kelley Beaucar Vlahos

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Local and state governments are increasingly using eminent domain laws meant to allow them to confiscate property for public works projects to instead grab land to make way for private developments and the fat tax revenues they bring, according to a Washington legal firm.

[coloradan]

"Blighted" and "dilapidated" places = "affordable housing."

[daviddennis]

"Those people are sitting in a very nice situation because they're going to walk away with money to buy a house in the nicest neighborhood in town," Phelps said. Under Ohio law, landowners receive the appraised value of the property, a bonus based on what the property would be worth located in a wealthier neighborhood, as well as relocation costs, he said.

If I owned the building in which I live in, and someone offered me enough money to move to Malibu, I'd be out like a shot.

There would surely be no need for eminent domain; the government would simply give me an offer, my eyes would pop out of my head, and I would accept.

So why do we need eminent domain again? Everyone has a price for their property; if you can't meet it, buy elsewhere.

D

[Enterprise]

A Triple A baseball park is being built in Fresno. An owner of a local piece of property wants to turn the property into a parking lot so he can charge for parking for the ball games. The City of Fresno wants to take the property via eminent domain so that they too can make it into a parking lot and charge for parking for the baseball games. The mafia couldn't do it any better.

[coloradan]

"New London was doing what most cities are trying to do in the U.S — economic development."

Economic development at the barrel of a gun!

[Publius6961]

I have seen both sides of the issue, as a homeowner and as an appointed city official.
Clearly, some opponents of development are irrational and use zoning and land use laws as an effective weapons.

Having said that, the abuse from "government" has increasingly become egregious since environmental laws beame the vogue in the early 70s.
The city where I used to live lost several lawsuits when it downzoned property prior to attempting to "acquire" it.
Bueaucrats hate the concepts of private property and fair market value.
And it is so easy to abuse unopposed power using the public purse against individual property owners.

[Gabz]

And it is so easy to abuse unopposed power using the public purse against individual property owners.

You said a mouthful!!!!

I live in a one street neighborhood of about 60 townhouses, about half of which are rental units. About 5 years ago, the city inspection department decided there was a rodent problem in the neighborhood and planned to put poison out to eradicate the situation. They notified the property owners, instead of the residents. Because I had a private mortgage the city was "unaware" that I was a property owner and contacted the guy I was buying from instead of me. Fortunately he called me the minute he got the letter.

Long story short - traps not poison was used to deal with the problem. The inspection department never made the mistake of underestimating the people in this neighborhood again.

[Free the USA]

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