Eminent domain struggle over bike shop

ABC 7 Chicago ^ | June 6, 2005 | Paul Meincke

[Protagoras]

Are you supporting the use of eminent domain to redistribute property?

Only if there is a commision to be made.

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

I drove past the Sportif bike shop Tuesday night, and other than the broken "S," the property is not blighted. What interests the developer is that the shop is just two blocks away from the Lawrence Avenue I-90/94 exit ramp, and just about the same distance from the Jefferson Park el (commuter train) stop.

To me, now more than ever, this looks like a government endorsed land grab, plain and simple, that is, if Ald. Levar and his developer pal gets his way.

[pageonetoo]

I personally think condos are of a much greater value to society than a bike shop ever can be

But, what do you think of the right of others to take your property, to build them? Suppose it was your families farm, which had been purchased in the 18th century by your great-great-great-grandfather?

A businessman wants to make money by building condos there. It is not about the condos, friend, it is all about the money... It's rarely anything else. duh!

[CajunConservative]

Have you ever had to face someone stealing your property through eminent domain?? I have and it is not fun. If the developer wants the property bad enough then he can make the property owners an offer they can't refuse. Let the free market work.

The use of eminent domain is being abused so developers get prime property cheap. As a property owner, either pay the price I want or go somewhere else. That is how the free market works.