Posted on 07/15/2005 4:56:46 AM PDT by sportutegrl
When Mayor Street declared his war on blight in Philadelphia, it is unlikely that he imagined the James J. Clearkin construction company as the enemy. The 87-year-old, family-owned business is located just off Castor Avenue in Juniata Park, in a modest, two-story office building that is as sturdy today as it was when the family mortared in the last buff-colored brick in 1950.
Now, as then, the Clearkin company specializes in schools and churches, mostly Catholic ones. It still employs about 45 people. In the last decade, it has paid more than $400,000 in city taxes. But unlike some Philadelphia businesses, Clearkin has no complaint with the assessment. The family would be glad to keep sending their tax checks downtown.
Unfortunately, those payments are due to stop this fall. Using the power of eminent domain, the city seized ownership of Clearkin's building this year, reducing the business to a tenant in its own building. Officials want the family out by the end of September so a local nonprofit group can build 50 subsidized middle-class homes. Residents of the development, which is being built under the mantle of Street's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, won't pay any property taxes until 2017 at the earliest because of a city abatement.
The Clearkins - James Jr., James 3d and Joseph - are so bitter about the city-sponsored foreclosure they have vowed to move their company out of Philadelphia. If they do, they will join other businesses evicted from the development site in decamping to the suburbs.
That's not how NTI was supposed to work, of course. Nor is it the outcome most cities expect when they resort to the big guns of eminent domain.
(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...
That's okay. They'll get Federal grants to support the city once they drive all the taxpayers out.
Sometimes I wonder just how low your IQ has to be before you can run for office!
Since when does the middle-class need subsidized housing? What a freakin lie! How many federal bucks did the good mayor get for this? Does anyone have more info on this?
THIS is what happens when "the brothers and sisters are in charge!"
Ironic, in China they at doing exactly the opposite, push out people out of subsidized housing so new tax paying, private buildings (apartments, offices) can go up in their place.
Oh, in China I also believe a restaurant owner is free to determine if smoking is allowed or not allowed in his establishment.
But here in the U.S. we can still protest our loss of property rights!
Sorry, not worth staying even then. Filthydelphia made it quite clear that they don't want Clearkin's company so they should lose they tax money from his property, his business taxes and all the income taxes his employees were paying. Cities must be punished when they ignore property rights.
If the city does not welcome you, shake their dust of your feet when you leave.
Low enough to be declared legally dead, and then some.
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