Soccer stadium land talks stall; city considers eminent domain

“The city of Orlando will vote today on a resolution that would allow it to execute its power of eminent domain — the power to take property following payment of an assessed value — on almost 2 acres of land needed to build the soccer stadium that’s expected to house Orlando’s Major League Soccer franchise.

“The city has acquired more than 70 percent of the project site by voluntary purchase. However, there are two parcels remaining, ‘subject parcels,’ which are necessary for construction and operation of the stadium, but which have not, as yet, been acquired. The city is currently in negotiations with the property owners and will continue to do so in good-faith. However, should negotiations fail, this resolution will authorize the initiation of eminent domain procedures to acquire the subject parcels,” according to the city’s agenda for today.”

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Bilboa, Richard. Orlando Business Journal 16 September 2013.