Sacramento City Council Exploring Eminent Domain Against Macy’s For New Kings Arena
“The owner of the Macy’s Men’s Department Store in downtown Sacramento doesn’t appear ready to sell, and now the Sacramento City Council is considering an eminent domain claim.
The property is where a proposed downtown arena for the Sacramento Kings is supposed to begin construction a year from now.
The city council is exploring how to use the power of eminent domain—typically used to build freeways or remove blighted buildings—to take over the site that houses the department store.
“They have been unable to acquire one of the key parcels for this project,” said city manager John Shirey.
Eminent domain attorney David Diepenbrock says the landowner will have a tough time saving their building if they truly want to keep it, but adds there is a way.
“The property owner could object, and say this is not a public project, it’s not a public purpose, this is a private project.”
But while built by Kings owners, the arena will be owned by the city. And with Macy’s already set to move its men’s clothing to the larger women’s store a block west when the lease is up in the fall, it means this is most likely just a negotiation plot.”
Sacramento CBS Local 13 August 2013.