[Sir Taliesin]

In my line of work, I see this going on all the time. Not long ago, a local County Industrial Board decided that they needed a farm for a new industrial park they were planning. Never mind that the farm was from an old Land Grant when this area was still a territory. It had remained in the family for over two hundred years! The Industrial board got together with the County Commission and offered to purchase the land from the family. They said it wasn't for sale and the County Commission condemned the land. As it stands now the original farm had been divided amoung three kids after their father died. Two of them after some long negotations agreed to accept the offer from the County. The last took it to court and promptily lost. He appealed and that's where it stands now. He has the old home site and has built another very nice home next to that, but my guess is that he will lose in the end. I, for may part, hate like hell to work on any project where this has happened.

Around this parts, most comdemnations happen over industrial parks. Most of the Urban Renewal progects happened here in the late fifties and sixties. The State will still condemn property, but mostly for roads. Here in Tennessee, the Utility companies also have "Right of Eminent Domain", as do Railroads (one of the biggest and greediest users there ever was).

Another local case concerned the City of Knoxville. They decided they needed a new ball field... out in the county, mind you. Again it was another old farm. Been in the family something like 130 years. The old man who owned it said HELL NO! So the City attempted to condemn the place. The Knox County Commission stepped in and said "Not so fast". They threatened to sue the City if they went ahead, citing lack of jurisdection. The City backed down and built their new field on another peice of property where the owner was welling to sale. So sometimes the Local Government can be your friend.

[ 05-08-2003, 04:48 PM: Message edited by: Sir Taliesin ]