My town votes to condemn private biz for office space, parking lots

[joeyforpresident]

I cannot begin to tell you how incredibly pissed off I am at this. There were some doubts if I really wanted to run for city council in May.

Not any more. These guys are going to get hit hard.

(spread this like wildfire to any private property rights activists you know)



www.EllisCountyObserver.com - Investigative News Blog

Private Property in Waxahachie in Jeopardy
This made me furious. Absolutely the most un-democratic slap-in-the-face-of-private-property-rights decision the Waxahachie City Council has made:

A building across from City Hall in downtown Waxahachie is "needed" for potential office space and redevelopment plans. The city council voted - not sure if it was unanimous, the article didn't say - to authorize condemnation proceedings to outright steal the building -- if a deal isn't reached with the building's owner.

I'll highlight the quote from Michael Scott in red to show readers the outrage I felt when reading this:

City to negotiate for building

By JONATHAN BLUNDELL
Daily Light staff writer
Despite authorization from the Waxahachie City Council to condemn a portion of property across the street from City Hall, Assistant City Manager Michael Scott said the city is in no immediate rush to take formal actions to condemn the building.

?All we did Monday night was get approval from the council to say the city can proceed with the condemnation proceedings if necessary,? Scott said. ?We?ll negotiate with both the current owners and the group that?s offered a contract on the building and work to buy out their contract. We?re going to do our best to hammer things out before turning to condemnation.?

The property, located at 410 S. Rogers St., was owned by two different property owners and was being leased by Waxahachie Building Supply. After the decision was made for Waxahachie Building Supply to move to a new location on South Highway 77, the city made an offer and closed on the purchase of the northern portion of the property last week, for about $400,000.

?We?ve been pursuing a few different options and have several ideas for possible development of south downtown, including the restoration of the train depot,? Scott said. ?There?s a great need for more office space and parking for the city so with those needs in mind and an opportunity for redevelopment, the city saw the importance in purchasing the property and buildings.?

Scott said that once it was announced that the lumberyard would be moving, the city went to work to obtain the vacant space.?It?s a situation where another group has a contract on the building and our offer was rejected,? Scott said. ?So we sent a letter to the group to negotiate but we didn?t have any communication from them. We?re in a situation now where we need the building as a public necessity.?

I cannot describe it in any other way: furious. It is absolutely the most despicable decision to come out of the city council chambers in a long, long time. Who cares if there is not a pressing need to move forward. The writing is on the wall, Waxahachie: based on a "public necessity" that is only linked to "economic development," the city council will condemn your property or place of business if it sees fit.

Where is Kelo v. New London, Ct. opponents on this one?

Absolutely outrageous. Every councilman who voted for this should resign immediately. The city lawyers need to be fired too.

[KBCraig]

Ummm, Joey?

The tenant moved. Then, "the city made an offer and closed on the purchase of the northern portion of the property last week, for about $400,000."

Are you outraged that the city spent that much money? Or are you confusing this with an eminent domain case?

This has nothing to do with Kelo. At least not from what you posted.

Kevin

[PowerPenguin]

It is very misleading. I was confused at first as well. Either way, the situation is stinky! Either way, there is theft, no?

[error]

The article itself is misleading.

From what I can tell, there are two "portions" of property at issue. One is already purchased; the other, where the business was located, is the one which the city has threatened to take. Someone else offered to buy the building before the city could, and now they're "negotiating." I put it to you that it's rather difficult to negotiate when you have guns pointed at your head.

[joeyforpresident]

The outrage stems from the city council voting to authorize condemnation proceedings if a deal isn't reached.

THAT to me is just a foot in the door for eminent domain, don't you think?

Taking private property for a "public" necessity that is really just "economic development."

Not right.

[Vote Tyler Stearns]

How will you go to Harvard or PSU or KSC if you win a city council seat?

[KBCraig]

How will you go to Harvard or PSU or KSC if you win a city council seat?

He's JP's twin.