In the article [Is Eminent Domain the Only Hope For Redeveloping Inner Cities? [REJ]](http://www.realestatejournal.com/regionalnews/20051010-chittum.html?refresh=on), eminent domain has been used effectively in blighted areas for economic redevelopment, but not without controversy. Opponents contend that economic redevelopment can occur without eminent domain.

After the [KELO et al. v. CITY OF NEW LONDON et al. [Find Law]](http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=04-108) case, where the state powers were upheld for taking property for private development, state legislatures are beginning to react:

* [Missouri wants to ban emminent domain when it involves private development [Kansas City Star]](http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/12894499.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp)
* [Pa. lawmakers consider eminent domain measure [Valuation Review]](http://www.valuationreview.com/pub/news/headlines/4397-1.html?type=pf)
* [Readers: Eminent domain law isn’t strong enough? [Decateur Daily]](http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/050806/oldpoll.shtml)

Here’s a summary of additional states reactions to the Kelo ruling:[Eminent Domain: States React to Kelo Decision [APA]](http://www.planning.org/statehouse/default.htm)

For more details on Eminent Domain:[[Eminent Domain: Nice Home, I’ll Take It] [Matrix]](http://soapbox.millersamuelv2.wpenginepowered.com/?p=49)[[Eminent Domain: What The Supreme Court Ruling Means To NYC] [Gotham Gazette]](http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/20050712/12/1479)


2 Comments

  1. ElamBend October 17, 2005 at 2:53 pm

    It was when this developer, Koman, was speaking to my Commercial Real Estate class in my last year of law school that I decided that I was going to forego the practice of law and become a real estate developer.
    He’s got a lock on the Walgreens development in the St. Louis area. Good guy.

  2. John Philip Mason October 19, 2005 at 3:35 pm

    While “highest and best use” is a relatively simple process to determine the highest rate of monetary return on a piece of real estate, it forgoes both the value of neighborhood character and characters within the neighborhood. Even a great city like New York is simply a compact collection of small towns, full of small town people, each splendid in all its glory and flaws. It’s interesting that a nation of such diversity is so driven to become so homogenized.

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