I can't believe you just said this. This is the most moronic quote I've heard all week.
Yeah, I said it. And I'll damned well say it again. If my home is worth $400,000 and the town says they have decided through a democratic process that I have to move, but that they are offering me $700,000 for my home, I would take the money, or even try to get a bit more through negotiations with an attorney. Then I could buy a new home (at cheap rates) a few blocks away, have $300,000 or more in the bank, and smile smile smile.
Like I said, the average American lives in their home for an average of 7 years. SEVEN YEARS! I have owned my last 3 cars for longer than that. Homes are nothing but a commodity. Let's not romanticize it into more than it is. That is why I mentioned "Far and Away". Eminent domain is never pretty but it has been done for over 200 years, with road, railroads, highways, malls, you name it. This woman was offered $700k for a $400k house. She is stupid to turn that down, imho.