Florida Eminent Domain Blog | Gregory W. Stoner

Although the fight for Atlantic Yards is over, having been lost despite some heroic efforts on the part of a number of residents, eminent domain abuses in New York continue. Now we can look at the situation in East Harlem to see how the use of eminent domain to correct "blighted" neighborhoods can be abused by politicians. In the area between Second and Third Avenues nehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifar the Harlem River, the city came into ownership of a number of properties. It demolishttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhed a number of buildings and left the properties vacant. When local owners attempted to acquire the properties to expand existing businesses or open new ones, the city refused to sell. As a result, even in a relatively successful area, the appearance is of a blighted community, where only a few struggling businesses exist amidst acres of empty buildings and vacant lots.

The city's goal is to hand over the entire area as a whole to a large developer. Namely, the city plans to condemn the six acres of land in order to allow the construction of a $700 million East Harlem Media, Entertainment, and Cultural Center, which will include office and retail space, a small hotel, cultural space, and apartments. Thought the majority of apartments are supposed to be set aside for low-, moderate-, and middle-income families, it is unlikely that many of the current businesses in the area will be able to afford space in the new construction, and some may not survive being forced to relocate.
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Fortunately, in Florida, the law prohibits eminent domain abuse of this kind. If you suspect your property is being taken to be handed over to a private developer or because of so-called urban blight, the Florida Property Rights Law Firm may be able to stop the taking. In the event we cannot stop your taking, we can still help ensure you get full compensation for your property.

To learn more, please call or email the Florida Property Rights Law Firm for a consultation.