California Eminent Domain Project News: CHSRA Updates State Legislature on the Bullet Train Project
This week, the California High Speed Rail Authority issued its biannual Project Update Report to the State Legislature. The report provides a synopsis of the Authority’s funding, environmental review, land acquisition (eminent domain), and construction activities for the California High Speed Rail Project. Of note, the Authority advises that the Project’s first operating segment… Read more »
California Eminent Domain Project News: CHSRA Gives Thumbs Up on Fresno-Bakersfield Track
On May 7, California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) board members voted on the next section of the rail project. The two-part vote resulted in the approval of the 114-mile route from downtown Fresno to the northern outskirts of Bakersfield. The first part of the vote was dedicated to the 20,000 page Environmental Impact Report… Read more »
California Eminent Domain Project News: Senate Committee Rejects Attempts at Another Vote for the California High Speed Rail
The ongoing tug-of-war between rail backers and opponents to the project has led to delays in California’s plan to build a high speed rail. Since its voter-back initiative, Proposition 1A, was passed back in 2008, the California High Speed Rail project has encountered numerous bumps in the road. The latest was the appeal denied by… Read more »
Pre-Condemnation Entry: Procedure Can Be Unconstitutional, 4/25/14
The Third Appellate District Court of Appeals has ruled that pre-condemnation entry on to the property an agency is seeking to condemn may be unconstitutional. If upheld, it will ultimately create significant obstacles for agencies to overcome in attempts to progress with eminent domain actions. Historically, California law entitled agencies to enter properties “to make… Read more »
California Eminent Domain Project News: Update, CHSRA’s Petition Denied by Appeals Court: Next Stop, Trial
Late Tuesday, three justices with the Third District Court of Appeals denied the California High Speed Rail Authority’s (CHSRA) petition asking the court to overturn a decision by the Sacramento County Superior Court. The Superior court had ordered a trial on one part of an ongoing lawsuit between Kings County farmer John Tos, Hanford homeowner… Read more »
Eminent Domain in Imperial Beach, 9/27/10
By A.J. Hazarabedian The city of Imperial Beach will commence eminent domain proceedings to acquire a leasehold interest from Southbay Drugs owner, Shawki Bachoua. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported in their article, “Eminent domain to begin soon against IB merchant,” that a settlement could not be reached between the city and the business owner. The… Read more »
Lemon Grove Plans To Spend $4 Million For Properties; 11/23/09
By A.J. Hazarabedian The city of Lemon Grove in San Diego County is planning to acquire four properties to complete an $8 to $10 million project to realign Lemon Grove Avenue near State Route 94, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune article, “City to spend nearly $4 million for properties, road project“. The properties are… Read more »
Ruling reversal clears way for boxing gym’s lawsuit; The Union Tribune, 1/22/09
By Janine Zuniga NATIONAL CITY – A National City boxing gym challenging the city’s eminent domain authority will get to argue its case after all, an appeals court ruled Thursday. Less than a week after hearing arguments, a three-judge panel of the 4th District Court of Appeals unanimously reversed a lower-court ruling that threw out… Read more »
Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Blight: Voice of San Diego, 7/18/07
By Nina Peterson-Perlman Wednesday, July 18, 2007 | Grantville’s Friars Road Pet Hospital and National City’s Community Youth Athletic Center, while not gleaming edifices of commercial might, don’t fit the traditional definition of an eyesore. The windows aren’t cracked, the plaster isn’t peeling and they attract concerned pet owners and kids wanting to learn how… Read more »
Eminent domain ‘reform’ a scam by backers of status quo: San Diego CA Times-Union, 5/24/07
Opinion By Chris Reed It could not be more obvious that California needs to reform eminent domain laws, which are often used to punish homeowners and businesses out of favor with City Hall and reward well-connected firms. So I welcomed news that another eminent domain reform initiative had surfaced in Sacramento.Unfortunately, it turns out to… Read more »