Judge Says City of Philadelphia Can Take Artist's Studio, Turn It Into Grocery Store

The Huffington Post ^ | 11/05/2014 | Evan Bernick

[GeronL]

BUMP!

[dead]

Good for him, the little guy won one for a change.

While we have explored the potential of building around Mr. Dupree's property, a viable project under these conditions is not possible. In short, the inability to acquire Mr. Dupree's property puts the prospect of bringing fresh food to this community at serious risk."

Yes, because Philly has almost no vacant lots or abandoned buildings. Just out of curiosity, I went to Google maps and looked at his address. Look what I saw across the street from his studio.

[Pollster1]

The city has offered Dupree $600,000, plus expenses for the property.

Thank you for the update.

I don't think much of Dupree's art, but that is irrelevant. If a private business wants to buy his property, they can make him an offer high enough that he wants to sell. To simply steal his property, taking it by government force for less than the value he places on his property, is immoral. It probably would have been cheaper to buy the property honestly, to offer enough that he wanted to sell, but that's not the way today's corrupt businessmen work (Note: I'm not implying that most businessmen are corrupt, just that the ones who use government force to generate revenue are all corrupt). I'm glad the artist won.

[Albion Wilde]

Look what I saw across the street from his studio.

Amazing! I have to agree that there was some back room deal seriously interrupted by this online organizing. Lots of eyes on the issue. Amazing how that works...

[Albion Wilde]

More updates:

Before the decision was made, video showing a lot of the art: ME-TV Philadelphia Report: Eminent Domain

Philly Magazine article: James Dupree Will Get to Keep His Mantua Art Studio