Judge delays ruling in Sacramento’s arena eminent domain case
“Sacramento officials had the former Macy’s men’s store building practically in their grasp Wednesday, paving the way for construction of the new Kings arena, only to have a judge say he would think a while longer about control of the vacant property.
One day after issuing a tentative ruling giving the city control over the Downtown Plaza building, a Sacramento Superior Court judge delivered a mild surprise by declining to make the decision final.
Judge Raymond Cadei still appeared sympathetic to the city’s eminent domain lawsuit but said he wanted to digest some last-minute legal arguments raised by the property’s owners.
“I’ll issue a final ruling as soon as I can,” Cadei said at the end of a nearly hourlong hearing.
Although they had expected a final ruling at the hearing, city officials said they weren’t bothered by the delay. Assistant City Attorney Matthew Ruyak said he remains confident the city will get possession of the building, the last piece of real estate needed for construction of the $448 million arena, quickly enough to keep the project on schedule. Assistant City Manager John Dangberg said it might have been unrealistic to get a final decision right away “in a case this complex.”
The city sued the owners – CalPERS and some mortgage certificate holders – after negotiations broke down on the sale. The city wants control of the building so the Kings can begin demolition later this spring and start constructing the arena this fall.”
Kasler, Dale. Modesto Bee 19 March 2014.