City Seeks Eminent Domain Judgment to Build Parking Garage
“The D&E Auto Repair Service property is owned by mechanics David Samuel and Earl Guevara. Samuel also lives on the property with his family in an adjacent house. If the city’s eminent domain lawsuit is successful, not only will he have to move his business, he will also have to move his family.
Samuel and Guevara have operated their auto repair shop on Hamilton Street since 1998. In 2004 they purchased the land for $575,000. According to the city’s lawsuit, the two still have 11 years of payments left on the property.
According to 2010 state tax assessments, the properties at 4503 and 4505 Hamilton Street are valued at $648,000, including site improvements.
They first learned of the city’s interest in their property in May. The first offer they received from the city was for $460,000. They turned down this offer, saying that it undervalued the land.
They said that their counter-offer, seeking $1.2 million for the land according to court documents, has been ignored by the city.
“We don’t want to sell our property,” said Samuel in an interview in his shop. “This is where we make our living. This is where we live.”
Theis, Michael. Hyattsville, MD Patch 6 December 2012.