DOWNTOWN: Eminent domain in works
“St. Albans City Manager Dominic Cloud today spoke out about the city’s possible eminent domain claim against downtown businessman Keith Taruski.
That action could be taken at tonight’s city council meeting as part of the city’s plans to build a parking garage, hotel and new state office building downtown.
Taruski, who spoke to the Messenger for a report published on Saturday, owns part of the core downtown parking lot, which is the planned site of the parking garage.
Cloud was unavailable to comment Friday for the Messenger’s report, but today said the city has been in discussions with Taruski for six years and has made about a half dozen offers for the property.
The most recent offer was $100,000, he said. Parking rights given to the city encumbers the property and its assessed value is only $30,000, according to Cloud.
“We’re trying to reorganize the marketplace so the entire downtown can grow,” said Cloud. “It’s government’s job to organize that which everybody holds in common, the public parking.”
A previous letter of intent signed by the city and Taruski is now available on the city’s Web site (www.stalbansvt.com). In that letter the two agreed that the city would pay Taruski $90,000 for the land, except for a 20-foot strip on the back of the former Napoli building on Federal Street.
The deal also would have given Taruski 20 feet of land along the north side of the Napoli building, currently owned by the city. That land is located next to the entrance into the parking lot from Federal Street.”
Monroe, Michelle. St. Albans Messenger 25 March 2013.