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February 13, 2010
State Senator Seeks to Reform Use of Eminent Domain
WNYC
by Matthew Schuerman
This item about Senator Perkins' attempt to reform New York eminent domain law mentions how Prospect Heights does not need the proposed Atlantic Yards project to prosper.
State Sen. Bill Perkins is trying to restrict the state's powers to take private property. The Upper Manhattan Democrat says the current law allows government to take advantage of small property owners.
Current law says blight is anything that's "substandard," "insanitary," or "deteriorating." But that leaves a lot of room for interpretation. In West Harlem, where Columbia University has plans to expand, a state agency said buildings with loose awnings and unpainted brick walls qualified as blighted.
Perkins, who represents the area, wants to raise the bar. His legislation says a building must be abandoned or unfit for habitation or meet other criteria before being considered "blighted." He'd also require even civic projects -- such as the planned basketball arena at Atlantic Yards -- be located in blighted areas rather than supplant healthy neighborhoods.
Posted by steve at February 13, 2010 7:56 AM