The right of a local government to exercise eminent domain is nothing new. Government entities have long had the right to compel the sale of private property for public benefit, such as building a new highway, or re building a blighted area. Over the past few years, eminent domain has been used for a new type of renewal – gentrification and luxury/commercial development that generate more tax revenue into a community. Misuse and outright land grabbing are a cause for concern in communities that are not wealthy, but certainly are not “blighted”. The fifth amendment of the US Constitution says … Continue reading →