[Lazamataz]

You seem terribly naive. More often than not it's merely a vehicle for corrupt politicians to hand prime real estate to their pals at fire sale prices for strip malls, apartment complexes, and the like.

In my entire life, I have never ONCE seen this sequence of events.

I have seen Eminent Domain condemnations for roadways and widenings thereof, and for public parks. That is it.

[the bottle let me down]

In my entire life, I have never ONCE seen this sequence of events.

I have seen Eminent Domain condemnations for roadways and widenings thereof, and for public parks. That is it.

I'd add schools to your list.

However, local government are increasingly using using eminent domain to assemble large parcels for sale to prive interests in the name of economic development. This is an abuse of the process.

Reason magazine has done a number of stories (example) and the Institute for Justice has helped the small owners in some of these cases.