Monday, June 06, 2005

Chicago wants to use eminent domain to tear down bike shop, put up condos.

From the little I know of the concept of eminent domain, the governments legal ability to take over private property--after paying for it-- is supposed to be for public projects. Expressways, parks, airports and the like. Sports stadiums have been added to the list, although not everyone agrees with that.

Eminent domain has taken a nasty turn on Chicago's Northwest Side: Alderman Patrick Levar has declared a bike shop operating on the same site for 35 years, along with other stores next to it as "blighted," according to Paul Meincke of ABC 7 Chicago.

Says the bike shop's attorney:

"We don't think this property's blighted and if it is, then there's not a piece of property anywhere that isn't at risk of being condemned by the city."

Levar wants the stores out, so a private developer can put up condos. File under government-abuse-of-power.

Chicago is not Venice, there's still space to build.

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