Pennsylvania eminent domain news

2009-07-17T07:16:00.000-04:00

Reading gives owners of 12 blighted properties a choice: Fix them in 60 days or lose them
Reading Eagle, Reading, PA - Jul 17, 2009
...The committee has another hearing slated for Sept. 17 when, if the rehab jobs aren't done, it will start the eminent domain process....

Committee meets to remove eye sores from Reading
WFMZ-TV, Allentown, PA - Jul 17, 2009
...Allentown and Harrisburg have taken similar measures to fix up their neighborhoods. In Reading, if the property is not properly rehabilitated and brought up to code, the City says it has the right to begin the process of taking over the property through eminent domain...

2009-07-16T07:34:00.001-04:00

Liggetts object to eminent domain
The Herald Standard, Uniontown, PA - Jul 16, 2009
...contends the declaration of taking violates his clients' constitutional rights, is procedurally defective, is an arbitrary act against his clients and that the authority has failed to post adequate bond as required under state law...

Daily planner: Thursday
Reading Eagle, Reading, PA - Jul 16, 2009
...Reading Blighted Property Review Committee, 6 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall, 815 Washington St. The committee is considering whether to order 12 properties to be renovated, or else be taken by eminent domain by the city...

Ex-Steelers carrying the ball for Flight 93 memorial
The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA - Jul 15, 2009
...Bleier is chairman of the “9/11 We Will Never Forget Committee.’’ He is organizing the the dinner along with former Steelers Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis...

Manheim Township eyes land for sports fields
Intelligencer Journal, Lancaster, PA - Jul 15, 2009
...The township is taking over the property in what officials called a "friendly eminent domain" proceeding, which saves the township on taxes. The owner was identified as a group known as New Generation at Weaver Road LLC...

2009-07-14T05:48:00.001-04:00

Huber Breaker owner files $1.7M suit against Luzerne
Standard Speaker, Hazleton, PA - Jul 14, 2009
...No. 1 is suing the county for abuse of process, malicious prosecution of civil proceedings and negligent interference with a contract. The company claims it is now obligated to remove steel from the site at a cost of almost $200,000 - instead of getting nearly $1.5 million - because of county decisions...

Sears building's fate rests in hands of City Council
Courier-Post, Cherry Hill, NJ - Jul 14, 2009
...His neighbor, Campbell Soup Co., wants the building demolished to make room for an office park that would create a 110-acre campus around its world headquarters. Last month the soup maker announced it had withdrawn its final offer of $3.25 million to buy the building from Zaken and wants the city to take it under its power of eminent domain...

2009-07-13T12:12:00.002-04:00

Editorial: Laurels and barbs
The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA - Jul 10, 2009
...We continue to oppose any use of eminent domain to acquire property for the Flight 93 memorial, and we applauded the two members who left the committee because they felt the same way. We hope their replacements bring the same level of integrity to the committee...

Gas firm, residents reach agreement
The Daily Local News, West Chester, PA - Jul 10, 2009
...An agreement was reached Tuesday in federal court between Williams, the natural gas giant, and the last six landowners who were fighting eminent domain proceedings brought against them by Williams last March...

2009-07-10T08:26:00.000-04:00

Edwardsville to pave 11 streets
The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA - Jul 10, 2009
...Edwardsville-Kingston Revitalization project coordinator Linda Zaneski said the project has advertised for engineering and architectural proposals and should learn by the end of the month whether it will need to take eminent domain action against one Main Street property owner who appears unwilling to accept a purchase offer for the property...

2009-07-09T07:19:00.000-04:00

Teddy's parking to get new look as part of project
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA - Jul 9, 2009
...The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation plans to exercise eminent domain of its right of way along Route 30 to permit DeBartolo Development to begin an extensive highway modification project...

Restore, don't rebuild, bridge in Washington Township, Berks County commissioners are urged
Reading Eagle, Reading, PA - Jul 9, 2009
...On May 15, the state Department of Transportation closed the county-owned bridge without notice after inspectors found it was unsafe. Replacing the bridge would require taking land by eminent domain, Gladieux said...

2009-07-07T07:00:00.001-04:00

Bear Creek Twp. delays purchase of backhoe
The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA - Jul 7, 2009
...The township voted previously to acquire 25 acres of the 600-acre plot by eminent domain if necessary. “We’re proceeding but we’re still willing to talk to them. Everything is still on the table,” Vinsko said...

2009-07-06T08:25:00.000-04:00

An uphill struggle
Sunday News, Lancaster, PA - Jul 5, 2009
...But he agrees the site could be a huge boon to the hundreds of climbers in the area "if it ever does legally open." It did, for a month or so, in 2004, after the county seized the land by eminent domain. The takeover was overturned in court...

Crazy Mocha joins North Side revitalization effort
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA - Jul 5, 2009
...North Avenue is home to both Allegheny General Hospital and the Garden Theatre, a porn cinema from 1972 until February 2007, when the city won a 10-year eminent domain battle...

2009-07-03T06:51:00.001-04:00

PennDOT takes long road to fix curve
The Morning Call, Allentown, PA - Jul 3, 2009
...It's a shame the way things turned out, because the purchase of the store property by eminent domain in the late 1990s may have contributed to the demise of the business. The owner, township resident Karlton Freeman, certainly thought so at the time. He said the threat of acquisition hung over the store for five years...

Historical items saved from auction block
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA - Jul 3, 2009
...Pat Smider, a lawyer for the center, said there simply wasn't enough money to continue operating a museum out of a 105-year-old schoolhouse that the borough had sold to the center in 1974 for $1. Besides, he said, the borough took back the building through eminent domain...

County judge to render decision in eminent domain proceedings
Citizens Voice, Wilkes-Barre, PA - Jul 2, 2009
...Authority solicitor Charlie McCormick contended that the residents were aware the sewer project was in the works and had attended some meetings when the project was discussed. He said the residents need to present a better reason than claiming they didn't have notice to object to eminent domain...

2009-07-02T06:57:00.001-04:00

Yatesville can't give OK to coin-drop
The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA - Jul 2, 2009
...Council also was advised that no information about the project to resolve flooding on the unnamed creek had been forthcoming from the state, but Falcone noted the borough would likely have to resolve some of the easement issues through eminent domain...

Flight 93 commission vacancies draw interest
Our Town, Johnstown, PA - Jul 2, 2009
...both resigned in May as the National Park Service announced it would use eminent domain to acquire the remaining property to build the memorial. Since then, the Park Service has backed off the idea and reached deals with almost all of the landowners...

Five Flight 93 landowners agree to deals
Our Town, Johnstown, PA - Jul 2, 2009
...Officials recently threatened using the force of law; however, landowner outcry brought both parties back to the bargaining table. They said the government prematurely resorted to eminent domain, without adequate talking time...

Agreement keeps Greene artifacts on display
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA - Jul 1, 2009
...Money to put the museum back in working order will come from a payment council made to the center when it seized the facility by eminent domain in 2007...

2009-06-29T07:57:00.000-04:00

Editorial: Drop the cudgel
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA - Jun 28, 2009
How inappropriate it would be for the federal government to stain the spirit of the Bill of Rights to commemorate those who died in defense of its principles...

Editorial: A better way
Daily American, Somerset, PA - Jun 27, 2009
...Eminent domain should not be a consideration at this time. Federal officials should have had more discussions with the property owners before initiating their plans for eminent domain...

2009-06-25T06:25:00.001-04:00

Cabin eyed for "rustic" mark
Lebanon Daily News, Lebanon, PA - Jun 25, 2009
...Bordner built the cabin in 1939, hewing the massive logs by hand, and lived there until the 1970s. A schoolteacher, he was the last holdout when the state took the surrounding land by eminent domain to create the state park...

Price for gum factory is sticky
The Delaware County Daily Times, Primos, PA - Jun 25, 2009
Price remains a sticky issue for the Swell bubble gum factory site on Eagle Road, which the township recently took through the power of eminent domain...

Secretary of Interior meets with landowners in Somerset
Cumberland Times-News, Cumberland, MD (CNHI News Service) - Jun 24, 2009
...While not taking eminent domain off the table, Salazar said he was hoping to avoid any unfriendly confrontations...

2009-06-24T07:47:00.001-04:00

YMCA prez confident Haverford will house site
Delaware County Times, Primos, PA - Jun 24, 2009
...Flynn reported the YMCA is close to reaching a lease agreement with the township for the 6.3-acre property on Eagle Road, which the township has taken through eminent domain...

Interior secretary hopeful of land deals for Flight 93 memorial
The Morning Call, Allentown, PA (Associated Press) - Jun 24, 2009
...Salazar said he is optimistic that deals could be reached within several weeks so design work could begin, and without the need for the government to seize the land through eminent domain, in which the courts would determine land values...

Progress grows for Flight 93 memorial
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA - June 24, 2009
...Negotiations between buyers and sellers, Salazar said, are "always a question of value." He said he is confident the park service will be able to "avoid an unfriendly condemnation."...

Sec. Salazar, Flight 93 land negotiations making substantial progress
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA - Jun 23, 2009
...Right now, the secretary said they have agreements in principle with five of the seven landowners, titles and some other issues still need to be finalized...

Five Flight 93 landowners agree to deals
Daily American, Somerset, PA - Jun 23, 2009
...“The hope is we will be able to conclude these efforts” willingly, Salazar said. “We always have eminent domain as a backstop.”...

Salazar upbeat on Flight 93 memorial
The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA - Jun 23, 2009
...While not taking eminent domain off the table, Salazar said he was hoping to avoid any unfriendly confrontations. Hanley echoed that sentiment...

2009-06-23T07:14:00.000-04:00

Family to reject Haverford offer for land
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA - Jun 23, 2009
...Haverford Township officials plan to offer $1.26 million to the owners of a former bubble-gum factory in exchange for taking the 6.3-acre parcel by eminent domain...

2009-06-22T07:47:00.001-04:00

Store to expand into Lowe's bar and restaurant
The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA - Jun 20, 2009
...The city was going to exercise eminent domain over the lot, but in 2007, after three years of negotiations, Sterling developer CityVest agreed to pay $650,000 for the lot...

2009-06-19T06:13:00.000-04:00

Vote moves Bear Creek Charter School plans forward
The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA - Jun 19, 2009
...He said the motion approved Thursday also allows the township to exercise eminent domain proceedings to acquire the land, if necessary. Vinsko said the township still hopes a purchase agreement can be negotiated with the owners...

Greensburg Laurels & Lances
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA - Jun 19, 2009
...It appears the government's option of eminent domain will be avoided in securing agreements with the remaining Somerset County property owners near the site where the jetliner, hijacked by terrorists, crashed on 9/11...

Board denies application for Lauxmont sewage plant
The York Daily Record, PA - Jun 19, 2009
...In October, York County agreed to pay the Kohrs $23 million to buy a 187-acre parcel and settle lawsuits stemming from its use of eminent domain to take part of Lauxmont Farms for a park. The arrangement for the sewage treatment plant to be built on county property is allowed based on that settlement...

2009-06-18T06:48:00.001-04:00

West Municipal News - Collier
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA - Jun 18, 2009
Commissioners voted unanimously June 10 to use the power of eminent domain to obtain three vacant properties that abut the trail in Rennerdale and expand land for the Panhandle Trail...

2009-06-16T05:57:00.000-04:00

Interior 'working to finalize' land deals
The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA - Jun 15, 2009
The U.S. Department of the Interior as of Monday still had not come to terms with the last few remaining landowners for Flight 93 acreage...

2009-06-15T10:10:00.002-04:00

Feds, Flight 93 property owners making progress
Daily American, Somerset, PA - Jun 13, 2009
...Friday was the deadline set by the federal government for agreements to be reached without the Department of Justice filing for eminent domain. Under those circumstances, land values would be decided in federal court...

Owners near agreements for Flight 93 land
The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA - Jun 13, 2009
...If agreements on those properties can't be reached, the government said it would pursue eminent domain Monday to take the remaining acreage...

Negotiations show progress for deal on Flight 93 memorial
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA - Jun 13, 2009
...The government had set yesterday as the deadline to acquire land needed for the memorial without having to use eminent domain to seize the land. The deadline passed and the government decided to keep trying...

Some deals reached on Flight 93 land
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA - Jun 13, 2009
...In October, the government began talking about the possibility of seizing the property using eminent domain. The Park Service would acquire the property after getting an independent determination of its fair market value...

Landowners near deals for Flight 93 memorial
The Morning Call, Allentown, PA (Associated Press) - Jun 13, 2009
...The park service said last week that if a deal was not reached by Friday it would resort to the legal mechanism of eminent domain, which allows the government to forcibly take land...

Deals reached for most land needed for Flight 93 park
The Philadelphia Inquirer, PA - Jun 13, 2009
...The Department of the Interior warned the owners last week that their properties would be seized by eminent domain if no deal was reached by yesterday's deadline...

2009-06-12T07:34:00.001-04:00

Edwardsville tax revenues are down
The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA - Jun 12, 2009
...letters will be sent to six property owners in the first phase of the project, and if they reject the bids for their properties after 30 days, the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority will begin eminent domain actions...

Residents support charter school
The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA - Jun 12, 2009
...School officials and the township are partnering to acquire a 50 acre site to house the school and public recreation facilities. Negotiations for the land have bogged down and the township is considering acquiring the land through eminent domain...

Deadline looms for land sales for 9-11 memorial
The Philadelphia Inquirer, PA (Associated Press) - Jun 11, 2009
...Friday is the deadline set by the U.S. government to get all the land needed for the Flight 93 memorial in western Pennsylvania without using eminent domain...

Editorial: Memorial talks must bear fruit Keep eminent domain plans off the table
The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, PA - Jun 11, 2009
...This pause by the government should allow everyone to focus on getting the deals done – the right way, without private property owners having their land stolen from them by the government...

2009-06-10T07:14:00.000-04:00

What you're doing tonight, 6/10
NBC Philadelphia, PA - Jun 10, 2009
...Four years after the Supreme Court case, property rights and the court's interpretation of the Fifth Amendment in the context of eminent domain issues will be discussed by attorneys Scott Bullock and Brian Blaesser, as well as journalist Jeff Benedict...

Proposal for trail entrance dropped
The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA - Jun 9, 2009
...“If you use eminent domain, there will be trouble,” he told the supervisors. At that meeting, supervisors said they would research other sites in the township with possible access to the trail...

2009-06-09T07:28:00.001-04:00

Fayette acts to take over Brownsville properties
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA - Jun 9, 2009
...The properties, which include buildings in some instances and vacant lots in others, have been declared blighted by the Fayette County Planning Commission, according to the notices of taking filed in the Prothonotary's Office...

Negotiations for Flight 93 memorial at critical juncture
Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, CA - Jun 9, 2009
...Specter noted that landowners in the area have been good neighbors, and have also been victimized by terrorism. In that spirit, park service officials said the memorial design will be changed to recognize the contribution of the landowners...

Flight 93 landowners handed deadline by feds
The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, PA - Jun 8, 2009
...Only if the parties are not able to reach agreement will we have to use the last resort of eminent domain to acquire land - in either case, however, landowners will return a fair price for their land," said Salazar...

2009-06-08T08:14:00.001-04:00

Editorial: Flight 93 memorial
Watertown Daily Times, NY - Jun 8, 2009
...The government said that eminent domain would be used only as a last resort. That should always be the case.

Dunmore's Georgie Roland was worki
The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA - Jun 7, 2009
...The few holdouts who remained were promised they’d be allowed to keep living in their homes. In 1992, Pennsylvania declared eminent domain over the town and condemned all the houses...

Opinion - Nancy Eshleman: Why must Flight 93 memorial be huge?
The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, PA - Jun 7, 2009
...It's not too late for them to step back and propose a smaller memorial, perhaps one that won't require the use of eminent domain to take land from its rightful owners...

Government changes course on Flight 93 memorial land, will make 'final best effort'
The Morning Call, Allentown, PA (Associated Press) - Jun 6, 2009
...The announcement, though, doesn't take eminent domain completely off the table. The government said it still has the option to use it, but will do so only as a last resort...

U.S. gives Flight 93 site landowners one week to sell
The Philadelphia Inquirer, PA - Jun 6, 2009
..."After meeting with the landowners and the Park Service today, I have high hopes that the parties are close to agreement and will be able to reach consensus over the land in the next week so we can keep the memorial on track without using eminent domain," Salazar said...

Officials to avoid seizing land for 9/11 site
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA - June 6, 2009
...She said she believes eminent domain will happen because officials want to keep on schedule to have the memorial constructed and ready by the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks...

2009-06-05T07:35:00.000-04:00

Officials to discuss Flight 93 Memorial
The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA (Associated Press) - Jun 5, 2009
...Specter’s office said the meeting in Somerset will focus on the land acquisition process and what needs to be done for the memorial to be ready by the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks...

Seeking common ground on 9/11 tribute
The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, PA - Jun 5, 2009
...The meeting will also bring landowners together with a representative from Gov. Ed Rendell's office, representatives of the National Park Service, Flight 93 families, Somerset County, Stonycreek Twp. and other stakeholders...

Even fewer residents remain in burning Centralia
The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, PA - Jun 4, 2009
...Centralia was once home to 3,000 people. The underground fire began in the 1960s, is still burning and expected to keep burning for many years. The state began buying and demolishing homes in the Columbia County town in the 1980s...

2009-06-04T06:25:00.000-04:00

Legal moves made on Haverford factory site
News of Delaware County, Holmes, PA - Jun 3, 2009
...Progress will then depend on a court settlement regarding the eminent domain proceeding, which Flynn said was “going along at a pace we expected.” A letter of intent would give the Y “a green light to do land development activities and traffic assessments,” said Flynn...