Norwood Uses Eminent Domain To Take Properties

WCPO.com ^ | 9/23/03 10:49:28 PM | 9News / Stacy Puzo

[areeves79]

Norwood City Council decided Tuesday to take nine different properties by using eminent domain. The declaration from Norwood council means the homes and businesses near Edwards Road will be taken for a new development.

All but nine homes and business owners have agreed to sell to a developer who is planning on a $125 million expansion of Rookwood Commons mall.

Earlier Tuesday, those nine home and business owners filed a suit, refusing to sell saying their neighborhood isn't blighted.

The neighbors still holding-out are asking a judge to step in and stop the city from going any further.

[Sloth]

These last nine were greedy and wanted way too much. For example, this marketing design company wanted one million for this little two bedroom house that they used as an office, needless to say it wasn't apraised that high.

Irrelevant. If I want something & the owner insists on an outrageous price, I simply refrain from purchasing it. I DON'T hold a gun to his head as a negotiating tactic.

[Conservababe]

These last nine were greedy and wanted way too much. For example, this marketing design company wanted one million for this little two bedroom house that they used as an office, needless to say it wasn't apraised that high.

If they wanted a million bucks for their property, then the developer should have paid if he wanted it that badly. If he didn't want to do so, he should have said goodbye to the plan.

But this running to the government to have eminent domain enacted to steal private property for private business...has to stop.

I will guess that your city government argued that they would get more taxes from the Mall than from property owners, thus it was in the public good.

Okay, if they get away with this, the next time around the developers will offer below appraisal and go to the city again if sellers balk.

[superfluousdude]

"What about Dingel-Norwood?" - Al Gore

[bvw]

Why sho' we hung that nigra, but it wuz best fo' the community.

[Eric Cassano]

These last nine were greedy and wanted way too much. For example, this marketing design company wanted one million for this little two bedroom house that they used as an office, needless to say it wasn't apraised that high.

Greedy? I think they call it "location location location". If a person owns the property then they have the right to demand any price for it. A property owner also has the right to not sell.

The government has no right to force citizens to sell their property so a private developer may benefit. If the property owners can't work out a deal in the free market then it's "game over". Tough luck for the developer. The idea of having the government deciding "fair market value" is really absurd.

I can't believe there are people who think this government-assisted theft of property is justified. It's really quite disturbing.

[Just another Joe]

I'm afraid that your are on the wrong side with this issue.
Either that or you are on the wrong forum.

Private property rights should top the wants of a corporation running to the city because someone wouldn't sell EVERY time.

If the corporation wants the property let them pay what the property owners wants as a price. If the property owner wants too much, build around them and leave them a right of way that is also the truck route to get to the newly built part.
Running to the city/county/state for eminent domain to get what the corporation wants is wrong!
Eminent domain needs to return to what it was originally meant for.

[Conservababe]

When new visitors drive into our town, they will see a Wal Mart on the right along with multiple large businesses and large office buildings. To the left, they will see a large working dairy farm of many acres. They are always amazed to see a farm in the midst of commercial property.

This farmer's land is valued in square feet instead of acres, because of the prime location.

He does not want to sell. I would hate to think what the people of this town would do to our city government who tried such a trick to take his land.

[ctlpdad]

Please check out http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/988594/posts for another story on this subject

[fortaydoos]

If there is an award for post of the day, yours should win. Absolute truth. Property rights are what our nation was founded on.

[JavaTheHutt]

I remember the battle over Northeast Mall. When some of the homeowners refused to sell, the city stepped in, disconnected all utilities and then condemned the properties. There was even one instance where city employees smashed down the front door of a home to get inside, only to find that the owners were still living there. While the homeowners lawsuit was being battled in the courts, the city came in and bulldozed the 'condemned' homes.

I never did hear if there was a final decision made in the lawsuit. I'd appreciate hearing about the final outcome, if you know.