Seafood firm tries to escape Freeport's net

Austin American-Statesman ^ | 5 July 2005 | Mike Ward

[af_vet_rr]

For more than a half-century, the Gore family and its Western Seafood Co. have been a landmark on Freeport's waterfront, a key stop for hundreds of shrimp boats along Texas' Gulf Coast.

But that could soon change if city officials get their wish to let a Dallas entepreneur build an $8 million marina in its place.

Family members say the case has eerie similarities to a Connecticut case at the heart of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision. The court ruled that cities have the right to seize private property through eminient domain for private development.

On Tuesday, Wright Gore III brought his fight to the Texas Capitol to support a ban on "economic development" condemnations.

[af_vet_rr]

Registration required. You have a 50 year old+ family company that the city wants to destroy in favor of some out-of-towner building a private marina. Unfortunately, this appears to be the tip of the iceberg in Texas.

[longtermmemmory]

This has many cities excited in FL.

People who own single family homes on the oceanfront are now worried because a condo complex will bring in more tax money to greedy politicians. (and voters)

[gridlock]

Funny how everybody getting bought out is on waterfront property...

If Howard Dean had just been patient, he would have been able to get his Burlington bike path built by condemning his own church under Eminent Domain. Poor guy was just ahead of his time.

[Fierce Allegiance]

The KELO case has the makings of the next American Revolution. I sense there will be many dead because of this horrible decision.

[River_Wrangler]

There is a slight difference. This property seems to belong to the city, not the business owner. land owners do have the right to sell or lease to the highest bidder.

I do feel for the Gores but it is a different set of circumstances.

[af_vet_rr]

The KELO case has the makings of the next American Revolution. I sense there will be many dead because of this horrible decision.

Some here have made a good argument that the American Revolution was fought over much less.

[Jarhead1957]

That does not make sense, why would a city (Freeport, Texas) go forward with eminent domain to seize property they already own.

Where are your facts?

[jim_trent]

I read the article and it did not mention this. How do you know this?

If the City owns the land, do the present business owners have a lease (I wouldn't see how not)? If they have a lease, is the City trying to break it? What is the true story here?

[Jarhead1957]

From June 23, 2005
Houston Cronicle

By THAYER EVANS
Chronicle Correspondent

FREEPORT - With Thursday's Supreme Court decision, Freeport officials instructed attorneys to begin preparing legal documents to seize three pieces of waterfront property along the Old Brazos River from two seafood companies for construction of an $8 million private boat marina.

Do your research!!!!!!!

[Jarhead1957]

Ooops that was for you!

[Jarhead1957]

Take a look at this web site:

http://notofedc.com/index.html

I'm not sure where River_Wrangler got his information. Freeport, Texas is in the process of Eminent Domain on the property.

[jim_trent]

Unfortunately, that website is a poster child for how NOT to convince people. It is full of sound and fury, flinging charges right and left, without any facts or proof.

I don't have a dog in this fight, but it looks like neither side is very free with the facts.

[Jarhead1957]

Yeah, the one fact is Freeport, Texas is using eminent domain to seize private real property to build a marina.

[pwatson]

What I wonder is first Freeport is the only city in Texas where you can build a house on what is normally federal beach front. Known for little government regulations. Second it has Ron Paul as its congressman the only "Libertarian" in the House even though he ran as a Republican. Ron is huge on Land Rights?

[Redbob]

What would you care to bet the Gore family is just waiting on a better offer for waterfront development?

OTOH, why didn't this wealthy Dallas developer go make his offer to the Gores?

This whole story smells sort of fishy...

[CDHart]

To paraphrase Patrick Henry, "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time by the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it's natural manure.

Carolyn

[af_vet_rr]

What would you care to bet the Gore family is just waiting on a better offer for waterfront development?

Although there is nothing here to indicate that is the case, I would entertain your line of reasoning and ask, would it matter? Do they deserve to have their property taken, to be given to another private individual/family, or corporation, simply so that another private business could be developed on it?

How would you feel if you owned certain property, and somebody else wanted to develop on it, and you didn't want to sell (or even, they didn't make you much of an offer), and they went to the city and had your land taken from you, for their development?

We shouldn't be placed in a position where we can have our property taken and given to somebody else, simply because they can pay more taxes. That would be rolling the clock back to the 18th century and beyond, when the Kings and Queens owned the land, and only if you could benefit them somehow, would you be allowed to live on it, or use it.

[bert]

.....waterfront property along the Old Brazos River from two seafood companies ......

Point of order.....

is the property along the river where the sea food docks are located or across the river from the sea food companies. The sentance above makes no sense.

[Jarhead1957]

The business is on land that borders the Old Brazos River. It has been owned by the same family since 1946, and it is a long way from the beach.

It's a 40 million a year business, and the owners chose not to sell.

Freeport Texas decided to take it by eminent domain, for a wealthy Dallas individual. He will use millions in tax funds to build his Marina.

The city of Freeport wants to change owners so they can get more tax revenue from the property.

Others have commented the owner probably has a better offer, if he does, it was the American way until the SCOTUS recent famous decision.

[Jarhead1957]

The beach is at Surfside, Texas, and I'm sorry to say it is not the only beach where squatters built homes in Texas.

If I remember my law right, the government owns the land from the grass line to the water. After the last Hurricane, the government made owners tear down the homes, that by the change in the beach were then on government property.