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March 10, 2009
Coney Island Deadlock Could Be Broken With Eminent Domain
Gothamist
The idea to use eminent domain to stop developer Joseph Sitt from his Coney Island blightification campaign has been floated more than once.
The president of the city's Economic Development Corp. says the administration "doesn't think" eminent domain will be necessary, and the Municipal Art Society, which has been critical of both Sitt's plans and the city's proposal, says it should only be used as a last resort because such a tactic would inevitably be dragged out in court. (Cf. Atlantic Yards.) But the option is officially on the table, and some Sitt opponents would love nothing more than to see the developer get zilch for the property he's been using as leverage against the city as he threatens to create a summertime Boardwalk dystopia of shuttered businesses and vacant amusement parks.
NoLandGrab: "Atlantic Yards" is now the poster-project for how NOT to ram a controversial project down the community's throat, that is, if you plan on breaking ground in the next five years or so.
Posted by lumi at March 10, 2009 6:12 AM