Elderly Man May Lose Home Over New Jersey Casino Project
“Eminent domain powers may cause an elderly New Jersey man may lose the home his family has owned for 45 years. Charles Birnbaum, 67, does not want to leave the three-story brick walkup in Atlantic City, but he may not have a choice.
The New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) has included Charles Birnbaum’s property on the list of properties targeted for eminent domain seizure near the Revel Casino Hotel. The elderly man’s attorneys contested the move in Atlantic County Superior Court last week. Institute for Justice senior attorney Robert McNamara argued that the CRDA has not yet justified why the entity is entitled to seize Birnbaum’s home via eminent domain statutes.
The Virginia-based Institute for Justice lawyer said, “There’s no plan. There’s no particular thing for which this property is being taken.” According to McNamara, the New Jersey agency is merely following a “condemn first, decide what to do later” policy. Birnbaum’s Oriental Avenue property is part of the South Inlet neighborhood which has been designated for mixed-use development.”
Inquisitr 28 May 2014.