Quincy presses forward on plans to take houses for sports field and parking
“Mayor Thomas Koch said Tuesday that the city is close to cutting a deal with three of the nine homeowners in North Quincy, whose houses must be demolished before the city can move forward with a $12-million project to build an expanded parking lot and sports field.
If any of the remaining homeowners refuse to sell their houses to the city, Koch said he would consider asking city council to approve an eminent domain taking. “Eminent domain is an option I will look at. It is a tool of last resort but it is a tool.”
City council president Joseph Finn said a push for eminent domain taking could face some resistance from councilors.
“If this were to go into realm of an eminent domain order in front of the council, it would be a completely different issue at that point in time,” Finn said.
City leaders have stressed they want to buy the nine homes from the owners through so-called “friendly” negotiations, but some homeowners in the working-class and largely Asian neighborhood haven’t seen in that way and expressed anger and worry in response to the city’s actions.
“As for a friendly takeover, I think it’s more like friendly fire,” said Roland Cote, who has lived at 26 Hunt St. for more than four decades.”
Burrell, Chris. Patriot Ledger 2 July 2014.