Editorial: Use of eminent domain must be justified
“n 2012, Winston-Salem used eminent domain to purchase from Harvey Davis the Union Station, a grand old structure built in 1926 that was slowly deteriorating, with the idea of eventually redeveloping it into a transportation hub. It’s an ideal location for such a hub, adjacent to Business 40, U.S. 52 and a railroad line. It’s also suitable to serve as a stop for a commuter-rail system for the Triad and a high-speed rail line between Raleigh and Charlotte. But economic realities will keep that from happening for some time.
The city can’t just sit on the property, which Davis used as an auto repair shop, until then. So it’s good that a group of city leaders and local residents met recently to discuss possible uses, as the Journal’s Wesley Young reported last week.
It could house businesses, resident Kevin Byers suggested during the meeting. “This community needs economic development,” he said. “This community needs a jump start.”
It could also provide space for education, resident Phillip Carter suggested. He sees the building as a place where students could learn from tutors or develop computer skills.
And then there’s its historic relevance: “We don’t want to keep on losing our history,” resident Jimmy Boyd said at the meeting. “I want my grandkids to know what our lives are sitting on.””
Winston-Salem Journal 25 June 2014.