In the 1981 Poletown decision, the Michigan Supreme Court allowed the City of Detroit to bulldoze an entire neighborhood, complete with more than 1,000 residences, 600 businesses, and numerous churches, in order to give the property to General Motors for an auto plant. That case set the precedent, both in Michigan and across the country, for widespread abuse of the power of eminent domain. It sent the signal that courts would not interfere, no matter how private the purpose of the taking.
The 100-year-old cemetery on Chene Street where my great-great-grandfather is buried couldn't be plowed over, so GM built an 8-foot high brick wall around it.
The MI supremes later reversed that ruling in another
lawsuit (in Wayne County). I suppose now that the
USSC decision reverses that reversal.
Very sad day for private property rights..