Taking land for mystery projects
This potential eminent domain case seems pretty silly to me:
An agency backed by the city is preparing to take Day’s business by eminent domain to make way for something called a “Media Box.”
Day can take the offer of $67,500 for his property – less than the city says it’s worth – or continue with an already drawn-out court battle. Either way, he has little chance of keeping his shop on a triangle of land at Spring Avenue and Olive Street.
Critics say Day’s situation is a classic example of the abuse of eminent domain. A case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court could affect thousands of similar cases nationwide.
It’s part of a revitalization effort but no one was talking about what exactly a media box is. Someone finally came forward to clarify:
But last week, Michelle Cohen, a public relations executive recently hired by Grand Center, said the “Media Box” is a building that will hold a design studio and apartments or condominiums.
“The ‘Media Box’ is really the working title for the design studio piece of it,” Cohen said.
Another case of forced private party transfers.
February 2nd, 2005 at 9:16 pm
Eminent Domain Abuse is a serious problem
Eminent Domain Abuse (I’ll call it EDA) has become a serious problem. The U.S. constitution provides for the taking of private property for public use, with just compensation to the owner. If you ask me, “public use” are sort of key words, which exc…