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 »
California Eminent Domain Project News: California High Speed Rail Construction Slowed Down by Lack of Land
The recent approval of 160 parcels between Fresno and Kings County for segment two of the high speed rail track has stirred up some excitement for rail backers. As the California High Speed Rail Authority (“CHSRA”) wastes no time in preparing for construction of the second segment, questions about the first segment construction arise. So… 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: 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: CHSRA Adds Palmdale to Burbank Track on Route
California High Speed Rail’s recent increase in activity in the Central Valley has caused some rail backers and opponents to voice their dissatisfaction with the “train to nowhere” plan. Both groups have taken the position that starting the high speed bullet train in the Central Valley has no benefit. The dissatisfaction has caused a political… 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 »
California Eminent Domain Project News: CHSRA Receives a Record of Decision from Federal Railroad Administration, Fresno-Bakersfield Tracks Approved
On Friday the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the 114 mile high speed rail track from Fresno to Bakersfield. The DOR reflects the FRA’s adaptation of a preferred alternative to the track which was outlined in the Final Environmental Impact Statement. The FRA chose the alternative track alignment in… Read more »
Richmond, California Has Yet to Exercise Eminent Domain to Seize Underwater Mortgages, 6/30/14
While the city of Richmond is the first municipality to approve the concept of using eminent domain to acquire underwater mortgages, the city has yet to actually do so. The City Council has been unable to get the needed 5 out of 7 votes to go through with eminent domain proceedings. Therefore, the city is… Read more »