Author Archives: admin

Business Trend. Land Use Regulations Meet Business Opportunity for Sharing Economy.

Where: Nashville, TN

The Business Rethinking Land Use, Parking Requirements & Transportation: Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group

What did Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group Leverage to be granted a variance from parking space requirements for its building epxansion?  The unanimous variance was granted for TriStar to partner with ride share to “pay monthly rates for the commutes for 23 employees, equal to the number of parking spaces” lost to the building expansion

Nashville…

Why the chant to use eminent domain against Trump Tower? What you Need to Know:

  • NYC is footing the bill. Securing the 58 story building is estimated at $35 million from now until 1/20/2017
  • Donald Trump loves eminent domain. 
  • NY has expansive eminent domain laws.
  • There are safety reasons to use eminent domain.  The security at Trump Tower for hinder traffic, impeding commerce & draining tax payer dollars.

Washington Post | New York should seize Trump Tower

City Property use. City Creates an Airbnb for unused office space. City fleet ride share on horizon.

The city: Amsterdam

The initial home share concept launching in early 2017: Free access to some 15 underused city meeting rooms

The ultimate goal of the city sharing economy: to make available unused city rooms and unusued city fleet vehciles

How does it offset the economic boon of hte sharing economy? The City project is limited to non-profits

Sharing Economy welcome the collaborative economy

Huffington Post | Amsterdam has created a free Airbnb for city-owned buildings

Civil Asset Forfeiture Lege Trend. State #17 Passes Reform.

The 17th state to reform civil asset forfeiture laws: Ohio

What does Ohio’s bill do?

  • Limits the crimes for which civil asset forfeiture is permissible
  • Switches the burden of proof to the state and away from the Defendant
  • Prevents civil asset forefeiture for amounts below $15,000

The opposition:

  • law enforcement organizations
  • Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association

Reason.com | Ohio Legislature Passes Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform

Legal Quagmire: City Wants to use Eminent Domain to Obtain a Utility

The City: Claremont, California

The eminent domain acquisition: The local water utility which the city thinks is charging residents too much

The legal drama: 21 day trial. The Court, in a tentative decision the City didn’t offer facts to back up its right to eminent domain.  Final decision anyday.

Lexology | O’Melveny & Meyers | City of Claremont’s Water System Acquisition Attempt Rejected

City Uses Eminent Domain Against Private Company. Electric Poles. 3 Bits Informed Intel.

The city: Hastings, Nebraksa

The target property to acquire: Utility poles owned by Windstream

The public purpose: Acquiring a secure the means of distributing electricity to the citizens of Hastings without relying on a 3rd party for repair

Hastings Tribune | Council approves eminent domain for utility pole ownership

Legal Trend. No Eminent Domain for Private Companies. 3 Statements from a Judge.

The project denied eminent domain: An oil pipeline through rural Ohio

What were the judge’s objections?

  • The company pointed to a $237.3 Million economic boon and the court said economic development is not a reason for eminent domain
  • The pipeline provides no direct benefit or service to Ohioans.
  • The common carrier statute that applies to pipelines like this is an unconstitutional infringement on the property rights of Ohioans

Legal Trends in the Rust Belt meet Legislative Trends in the…

A train proposal leads lawmaker to end eminent domain for all private companies.

The train route:   The Great Lakes Basin Railroad

The homestate for legislators wanting to stop eminent domain for the train: Wisconsin

The method to stop the train: End eminent domain for all private entities

Northern Public Radio | Beloit-Area State Lawmakers Try To Stop A Train By Changing State Law

1 Town. 3 Steps to Combat Zombie Property

The town of DeWitt, NY is facing zombies in the shape of  zombie properties. Here’s the town’s strategy to erradicate zombies:

  • Acquire abndonded property via eminent domain
  • Transfer the property to the Greater Syracuse Lank Bank
  • the Greater Syracuse Lank Bank restores the homes
  • The homes are then resold to new homeowners

Eagle News Online | DeWitt Town Board makes strides to combat ‘zombie properties’