Atlantic City eminent domain case moves forward as Revel closes
“A man fighting a state agency’s plan to seize his Atlantic City home near the soon-to-be-shuttered Revel Casino Hotel today returned to court, where lawyers sparred over the influence the bankrupt resort had on the development project at the center of the case.
One of the lawyers representing Charles Birnbaum, the 67-year-old Hammonton man who owns the home in the shadow of the Revel casino, said today that the resort was intended as an anchor of the development in the area and questioned the logic behind still condemning his client’s property if the resort is not open and drawing business to the area.
“There’s something perverse about saying that if the Revel is successful, our only solution is to destroy the Birnbaums’ longtime family home. If the Revel is unsuccessful our only solution is to destroy the Birnbaums’ longtime family home. That can’t possibly be the answer to both situations,” Robert McNamara, a senior attorney with the Virginia-based Institute for Justice, said after the court hearing today.
Stuart Lederman, the attorney representing the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, argued today that the project — for which there is a general outline but not detailed plans — was not solely related to the Revel.
He said one of the main goals of creating the tourism district in the city, is to develop non-casino revenue for the city.
“It’s unfortunate the casinos are closing,” Lederman said after the hearing. “That’s the reality that everybody has to deal with and the city needs to survive, or thrive really, on something other than relying on casino revenue and casino jobs.” He said groups of parcels of land are needed to attract developers.”
O’Neill, Erin. NJ.com 28 August 2014.