Don redevelopment agencies just take private property from “the little guy” and sell to big developers?
Well over 95 percent of the time redevelopment agencies buy property from willing sellers. The use of condemnation powers is always controversial and difficult – even when the property being condemned is in poor condition. It is expensive to buy property and even more so when eminent domain procedures are used. Numerous redevelopment agencies have restricted their ability to take private property. Perhaps 25 percent of redevelopment agencies have no powers of condemnation. These agencies will buy land, but will never take it from an unwilling seller. The actual amount of property purchased through eminent domain is quite small. There are times when it is essential to selectively use this power – with full compensation to the property owner – in order to benefit the entire community. There are more legal restrictions on how and when eminent domain powers are used by redevelopment agencies than are placed upon the state, county, city or school district.
Related Questions
- How can the government tell private developers what to do with their property? Why would the developers want to cooperate with this District Plan?
- Don redevelopment agencies just take private property from "the little guy" and sell to big developers?
- Why sell the Rispin property to the Redevelopment Agency?
