Downey to use eminent domain on corner site: Los Angeles Wave, 8/30/07
By Arnold Adler DOWNEY — The City Council Tuesday night unanimously authorized the use of eminent domain to force property owners to sell the city some 896 square feet of right-of-way to continue the $19 million Lakewood Boulevard widening project. Public Works Director Desi Alvarez said the property, currently containing parking and landscaping, is the… Read more »
Developer won’t oust popular gym; he’ll build project around it: Union Tribune, 8/30/07
By Tanya Sierra NATIONAL CITY – A developer proposing a block-long housing and retail project that includes a 24-story condominium tower has said he no longer wants to displace a popular National City athletic center. But that’s not stopping the gym’s lawyers from challenging the city’s eminent domain authority. Jim Beauchamp said this week that… Read more »
Downtown Fresno Businesses Not Yet Worried About Forest City Project: ABC30, 8/27/07
By Maureen Naylor The Fresno city council Tuesday will decide if it wants to move forward on a new Forest City plan to develop an area in downtown Fresno. Plans call for a major makeover along Mono Street, apartments for 2,000 people, with roundabouts, fountains and a park. But for this to happen the city… Read more »
Governor worries over bid to limit land seizures: The Sacramento Bee, 8/22/07
By Kevin Yamamura A proposed initiative limiting how governments seize private property has drawn concerns from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and a Republican state senator that it could block construction of dams and a Delta canal. A legal analysis issued this week by Richard Martland, a former state attorney general official, argues that the eminent domain… Read more »
Ridge water district looks into acquiring neighbors: Oroville Mercury Register, 8/18/07
By Ryan Olson PARADISE — For years, the Paradise Irrigation District has been in talks about partnering with its neighbor, Del Oro Water Co., to share water from a proposed regional pipeline. This week, PID officials announced they’re looking at an alternative — acquiring Del Oro’s two districts covering Lime Saddle and Old Magalia. Officials… Read more »
Anti-tax group eyes K Street: If eminent domain is used by city, it would be issue in a state ballot measure: The Sacramento Bee, 8/17/07
By Terri Hardy A push for the renovation of K Street has turned ugly, pitting the city against Moe Mohanna, the owner of several blighted downtown properties. If the city were to use its biggest stick and try to forcibly take Mohanna’s land, it could set up an unintended result: turning Mohanna into the poster… Read more »
East Lewelling widening finally gets under way: County uses eminent domain to seize bordering properties: The Daily Review, 8/13/07
By Rachel Cohen SAN LORENZO — After 30 years of talk and two years of serious investigations, the county has begun the physical process of widening East Lewelling Boulevard. The section of East Lewelling Boulevard that runs between Hesperian Boulevard and Meekland Avenue outgrew its two lanes long ago. “With Lewelling being just one… Read more »
Fight seems imminent: Tracy Press, 8/6/07
By Rob L. Wagner Tracy is prepared to use eminent domain to take land from so-far unwilling homeowners so Grant Line Road can be expanded. Photo by Glenn Moore Stephen Lum and Margarita Ruiz own a small home at 81 E. Grant Line Road. The city considers East Grant Line Road between Parker Avenue and… Read more »
The Limits of Anti-Kelo Legislation: Reformers are trying to outlaw eminent domain abuse. But will the laws they’re passing be effective?: Reason Magazine, Aug./Sept. 2007
By Ilya Somin In Kelo v. City of New London (2005), the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the government to condemn property and transfer it to other private owners in the name of “economic development.” Upholding the forced transfer of land in New London, Connecticut, to private developers, the Court ruled that virtually any potential public… Read more »
Magnolia Oaks project still alive: St. Helena Star, 7/26/07
By Jesse Duarte Developers of the 45-unit Magnolia Oaks subdivision have less than two months to resolve the problems that plague the proposal. The St. Helena City Council agreed Tuesday to continue their discussion to give developers time to wrangle with access issues and make the project less intrusive to neighbors. “You’ve got three people… Read more »