Orlando files suit to take church land for soccer stadium
“After a year of failed talks, Orlando has filed suit in court to force a family-owned church in Parramore to sell its land to make way for a new Major League Soccer stadium.
If successful, the eminent domain action filed Thursday in Orange Circuit Court would allow Orlando to take the last of 20 parcels needed for the $115 million stadium being built for the Orlando City Lions, an MLS expansion franchise.
Newly released records show the city more than doubled its initial offer for the small, African-American-owned Faith Deliverance Temple, to $4 million.
Members of the family that owns the church reduced their initial selling price from $35 million to $15 million. Even so, the two sides remained far apart.
City Attorney Mayanne Downs characterized the church’s asking price as essentially “a blank check.””
Schlueb, Mark. Orlando Sentinel 20 May 2014.