Lawmakers propose ‘Homeowners’ Bill of Rights’
” Dave Meixner purchased property on the northern shores of Lake Pepin in the pursuit of his art. The nature photographer saw the potential for the perfect outdoor studio. Now he and his land are…
Town must pay $2.9M — 7 times more than it offered — for eminent domain property
“A New Jersey town has to pay an owner about seven times what it offered for a property taken by eminent domain. An Essex County Superior Court jury Friday ordered the town of Bloomfield to…
Canceled blight hearing rouses further suspicion in central Ogden
“Tuesday night’s blight hearing cancellation notice and locked front doors to city hall did little to build trust between city officials and residents who live within the nine-block inner-city area in question. The 84-acre Oak…
How an obscure legal issue has found its way into the GOP race
“In a Republican primary that has been dominated by sound bites, a complicated legal issue has found its way to the fore of the campaign: eminent domain. The procedure allowing governments to seize land for…
No, Eminent Domain Is Not an ‘Obscure Legal Issue’
“Eminent domain is not an obscure issue unless you’ve never had to pay any attention to municipal government, where it comes up frequently. What is unusual, though, is that it is indeed an issue being…
Developers: We’ll give city free real estate to avoid sewage-tank land-grab
“A developer is attempting to avoid a city plan that would force it to sell its Gowanus Canal-side land to make way for a giant sewage tank, by offering instead to donate half of the…
Property acquisition for National Western Center in Denver moving on
“Negotiations to acquire properties to expand the National Western Stock Show grounds are going well, a city official said Tuesday, but if it has to, Denver is prepared to use eminent domain. “Our intent…
County pays $30K in legal fees in eminent domain case
“Cumberland County was ordered to pay nearly $31,000 in legal fees last May after a failed legal attempt to gain easement access to a water tower on Renegade Mountain in a condemnation suit. The county…
De Blasio’s top attorney on eminent domain
“The de Blasio administration is willing to use eminent domain in certain circumstances to advance its affordable housing plans, the mayor’s top lawyer said Thursday. Zachary Carter, the city’s corporation counsel, was asked about eminent…
A Million Homes Taken Since Kelo
“It has been just over a decade since the Supreme Court decided in Kelo v. New London that local governments can take private property by eminent domain under a very broad reading of “public use”….