California Eminent Domain Project News: Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project, Updates and Current Issues
Construction of the Crenshaw/LAX green line has been underway for many months now. The project is planned to connect the north-south Crenshaw Line and the east-west Green Line into a monorail system that extends towards the LAX. This 8.5 mile light-rail line will include 8 stations between the Expo Line on Exposition Boulevard and the… Read more »
California Eminent Domain Project News: California High Speed Rail Settles Lawsuit with Bakersfield
Last month, the U.S. Surface Transportation Board held that the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, is pre-empted by federal environmental law relative to the Fresno-Bakersfield route of the proposed high speed rail. STB stated in their opinion that CEQA could delay or eliminate a rail project even after a federal board, such as the… Read more »
Redevelopment Is Back in California
Back in 2011, Governor Jerry Brown abolished redevelopment agencies in California successfully gaining $1.5 billion of the redevelopment funding to close California’s budget gap. Recently, three bills have reached the Governor’s office in an attempt to revive redevelopment in California. Gov. Brown has signed two of those bills, Senate Bill 628 and Assembly Bill 229,… Read more »
Studio City Residents and Community Groups Seek to Stop Property Owner’s Redevelopment Plains: Open Space vs. Condos
Open Space vs. Condos Proposed development of a portion of the privately-owned 17 acre Weddington Golf and Tennis, located on the banks of the Los Angeles River in Studio City, is a hot topic of debate between Studio City residents and the Weddington owners. The public golf and tennis facilities have been a neighborhood gem for… Read more »
Proposition 13: Property Tax Roll-Over in Eminent Domain Cases, 8/20/14
In 1978, California’s Proposition 13 created security for home owners by limiting property taxes to one percent of the property’s value with a maximum two percent increase for inflation of the property value in a year. The property tax is reassessed when the property is being sold or if certain improvements on the property increase… Read more »
California Eminent Domain Project News: More Condemnation Approvals: California High Speel Rail Gears Up for More Acquisitions
On Wednesday, the State Public Works Board approved approximately 160 parcels between Fresno and Kings Counties for acquisition for the high-speed rail project. The California High Speed Rail Authority (“CHSRA”) requested acquisition of the 160 parcels which, in addition to several hundred other parcels, they believe are necessary for the construction of the rail project…. Read more »
California Eminent Domain Project News: Update Part Two – Court of Appeals Decision Means Big Win for California High Speed Rail Authority
Back in April, the California High Speed Rail Authority took a hit when the State Court of Appeals denied its petition to overturn a decision by the Sacramento County Superior Court regarding CHSRA’s alleged noncompliance with the provisions of Prop 1A. On Thursday, ruling on a portion of the Superior Court decision which the Court… Read more »
Claremont to Vote on Possible Eminent Domain Action Against Private Water Company, 7/15/14
The City of Claremont is turning to its citizens to ascertain whether or not the city should forcefully take possession of the local privately owned water company, Golden State Water Co. The City Council unanimously voted that a $55 million bond measure will be placed on the November ballot relating to acquisition. As the water… Read more »
California Eminent Domain Project News: Valley GOP Rally House to Put an End to High-Speed Rail
The GOP is rallying its troops in an effort to throw the California High Speed Rail project off its tracks. Efforts to do so, however, have been met with the full-blown resistance of the rail backers; they are not giving up their high-speed train without a fight. Valley GOP delegates are deploying a transportation funding… Read more »
California Eminent Domain Project News: California High Speed Rail Authority’s Funding Dinged Again
A recently approved transportation bill which has blocked CHSRA’s possibility of getting additional federal funding for the up-coming fiscal year is not the only money crisis facing the rail project. The planned funding by the State for the high-speed rail has been tentatively approved for $250 million beginning in fiscal 2015. This massive sum, however,… Read more »