All articles tagged with #eminent domain
Farmers in Maryland are fighting against a proposed 67-mile transmission line intended to support data centers and address power demand, fearing it will devastate their land, impact local tourism, and threaten their livelihoods, amid broader national conflicts over infrastructure and tech industry expansion.
The Kansas City Royals are seeking public funding for a new $2 billion stadium complex, including a hotel and entertainment venues, despite playing in the beloved Kauffman Stadium. The proposed site in the Crossroads district has sparked opposition from small businesses and a church facing displacement, with concerns about the impact on the community's character. Critics argue that using eminent domain to seize properties for the stadium is unjust, and economists have debunked the idea that sports stadiums benefit local communities. The Royals' owner, worth over a billion dollars, is facing backlash for seeking public funding to further enrich himself, and residents and officials are urged to consider the implications of funding a stadium that primarily benefits billionaire sports owners.
A hearing is underway in an eminent domain case in rural Georgia that could have far-reaching implications for property law. The case involves a railroad's attempt to condemn property to build a rail line serving a rock quarry and potentially other industries. Opponents argue that the railroad's plans would only benefit the quarry and not serve the public interest. The outcome of the case could impact the power of eminent domain and private entities' ability to condemn private land for various projects, including pipelines and electric transmission lines.
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners in North Carolina has unanimously voted to use eminent domain to acquire tax parcel R04916-003-003-000, which is currently occupied by the Cheetah Premier Gentleman's Club. The resolution includes a budget amendment of $2.36 million for the land purchase, and legal counsel has been selected to handle the condemnation process. Eminent domain allows the government to acquire private land for public use, provided "just compensation" is provided and there is a valid reason for the acquisition.
The widening of Interstate 35 in Austin, Texas, is set to displace dozens of homes and businesses, including apartments, restaurants, health care providers, and small businesses. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will buy the properties and cover moving expenses, but residents and business owners are concerned about the disruption and financial losses. TxDOT's plans for the $4.5 billion project, known as I-35 Capital Express Central, include tearing down the upper decks and adding two lanes in each direction. The construction timeline spans a decade, and the project will require the seizure of over 54 acres of land through eminent domain.
The widening of I-35 in Austin, known as the I-35 Capital Express Central project, is displacing numerous households and businesses along the highway. Around 111 properties, including houses, apartments, restaurants, and small businesses, will be affected. While TxDOT will buy the properties and cover moving expenses, they won't compensate for all losses, such as lost revenue or the costs incurred during the relocation process. The expansion project aims to add two lanes in each direction and lower the main lanes of I-35, potentially creating new real estate opportunities in the future.
The owner of Moses Rose's Hideout, a bar located in the footprint of a planned Alamo Visitors Center and Museum, has reached a deal with the Alamo Trust to acquire the property, ending the ongoing eminent domain process. The purchase price was not disclosed. The owners have agreed to vacate the property by August 15, allowing the museum plans to proceed as scheduled. The agreement also stipulates that any artifacts found at the site will be displayed with museum labels acknowledging their origin from the bar property. The bar owner had previously rejected offers up to $5.26 million, claiming the state undervalued his business.
The city of Hayward, California issued an apology for the destruction of Russell City, a predominantly Black and Latino community that was bulldozed and sold off to developers in 1967. However, not everyone is on board with the plan for reparations, with some claiming that the story of Russell City has been wrongly co-opted by local politicians, national media, and reparations advocates to serve as an example of unjust government actions against African Americans. The lack of documentation to prove whether the county government acted illegally or improperly compensated residents has been a major hurdle for Russell City’s Black descendants looking for restitution. The Russell City Reparative Justice Project is on track to submit its proposals in November, but there is no indication of what type of reparations might be accepted or where the funding would come from.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has voted unanimously to use eminent domain to seize Fairfield Lake State Park, a popular state park south of Dallas, from private developers who planned to turn it into a luxury community with multimillion-dollar homes and a golf course. Environmental advocates, lawmakers, and home and business owners in Freestone County urged commissioners to save the park from development. Dallas-based developer Shawn Todd, who owns the land, has warned that eminent domain would be a costly move for Texas. If the state and Todd cannot reach an agreement, the issue will ultimately be decided in court.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has voted unanimously to use eminent domain to seize a 5,000-acre property south of Dallas that includes Fairfield Lake State Park, citing the need to preserve a state park enjoyed by thousands of Texans. The state opted to seize the land from Todd Interests, a Dallas-based developer, who purchased the property in February for $110.5 million. The state will notify Todd of the condemnation decision and make an offer for the property. The state and the developer will negotiate over how much Texas will pay for the almost 5,000 acres.
Black families across the US are seeking the return of land they say was taken in government seizures, an emerging attempt to provide economic restoration for the long saga of Black land loss and deprived inheritances. Descendants are searching for aging deeds and scouring public records to try to prove past ownership of properties that are now the sites of businesses, college dormitories, and parking lots. They want the land or to be paid current market value. The loss of property stripped by deceit, violence, or using eminent domain was relegated to bittersweet memories and cautionary tales.
Developers purchasing Fairfield Lake State Park in Texas have expressed their "astonishment" that the state would consider acquiring the property through eminent domain, just days after a meeting was scheduled to consider the acquisition. The park, leased to the state for decades by Vistra Energy, has been permanently closed to the public and will be turned into a gated community with multi-million dollar homes and a golf course. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department had declined an opportunity to purchase the property twice and offered a $20 million assignment fee and up to $5 million in expenses reimbursements to buy Todd Interests out of its contract with Vistra.
Austin City Council has approved an $88 million settlement agreement with LoneStar Holdings, the group that operates the airport’s South Terminal, for a lawsuit in Travis County District Court and another in federal court. The agreement allows Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to move forward with its expansion and redevelopment program, which includes the removal of the South Terminal facility and 30 other vacant airport-owned buildings. The city had decided to use eminent domain to take over the property near the main terminal where the South Terminal sits. The money for the settlement came from the Department of Aviation’s operating fund, which is separate from the City of Austin’s general fund and does not receive any Austin taxpayer dollars.
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon says the US government may need to use eminent domain to seize private property to propel the push for clean energy. Dimon says recently passed legislation including the Inflation Reduction Act have the potential to create more than $1 trillion in clean technology development. However, he believes immediate action and a serious sense of urgency is needed to effectively implement clean energy policies in a timely manner. Local, state and federal agencies all have the power to utilize eminent domain to allocate private property.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon suggested that the US government and climate-conscious corporations may have to seize citizens' private property using eminent domain to enact climate initiatives. He argued that such drastic measures may be employed because time is short, and the window for action to avert the costliest impacts of global climate change is closing. Dimon justified this potential government and corporate seizure of public property, saying that "we simply are not getting the adequate investments fast enough for grid, solar, wind and pipeline initiatives."