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August 2, 2007
EMINENT DOMAINIA: The Big Apple Bites!
AP via amNY, Harlem against Columbia's expansion
Columbia already owns two-thirds of the properties in the former manufacturing area of west Harlem, known as Manhattanville, and is seeking to acquire the rest.
Columbia already has defused one of the more rancorous aspects of the plan by saying that it would not invoke eminent domain law to evict residents of 132 apartments in seven walkup buildings. The university has also said it will help tenants find equal or better housing and will assist with moving costs.
That move was welcomed by the area's city councilman, Robert Jackson, who said, "No potential problem has been more threatening for the residents of west Harlem than the use of eminent domain."
NoLandGrab: That move is non-sensical and pure pr drivel. If all residents do not accept Columbia's offer, then the State will come in to do the condemnation (as planned), though without Columbia University actually asking.
The university has not, however, ruled out using eminent domain to acquire several commercial sites within the 17-acre parcel. It has been negotiating with individual property owners to acquire the land, with mixed results.
Warehouse operator Nick Sprayregen, whose neat brick warehouse is draped with a large banner reading "Eminent Domain Abuse," vowed to fight the expansion in court if necessary.
"This is a really nothing more than a land grab of the most extreme type. They want every last square foot of space to build a beautiful campus. There's no reason they need all of it," Sprayregen said.
The NY Times, Hempstead Village Divided on $2 Billion Comeback Plan The Times ran an article about the debate and controversy over Hempstead's downtown renewal plan. No mention that 58 properties are under threat of eminent domain.
But in case you're interested, the town's mayor claims "the project would create 5,200 construction jobs and 1,200 permanent jobs and yield $35 million a year in badly needed taxes."
Duffield St. Underground, Alien Ship Officially Set for Liftoff on Flatbush Avenue The Duffield St. blog has been keeping watch as even more development enters the pipleine as part of the Downtown Brooklyn plan, but city officials still insist that using eminent domain to destroy historic Duffield St. homes is necessary to encourage development.
Posted by lumi at August 2, 2007 8:38 AM