InfoHive – Eminent Domain

What is happening? The federal government is launching a $1Billion initiative to reconnect neighborhoods that were divided by infrastructure like roads, train lines and bridges.

Why is this important? We’ve talked about how historic infrastructure decisions displaced Black and Brown communities and divided communities. For those of us in Austin, think of what I-35 did to East Austin back in its day.

How will this be important? The funding will be available for “better bus and rail service; pedestrian walkways over or under existing highways; parks on top of capped highways; linear parks and trails for biking and walking; commercial corridor revitalization; roadway redesigns; and “complete streets” conversions to accommodate people using different modes of transportation.”

Route Fifty | Feds Launch $1B Initiative to Rework Infrastructure That Cut Apart Cities

What is happening? Denver, Co passed a gun ordinance that Republican Douglas County Commissioner doesn’t like so the County is proposing to use eminent domain to seize Daniels Park, a nearly 1,000-acre open space near Castle Pines, that is maintained by the Denver Parks and Recreation.

Why is this important? Different levels of government can use eminent domain against property owned by other levels of government.

How will this be important? Here’s where things get tricky- Daniels Park is estimated to be valued at $800 millions and the county’s entire budget is $550 million.

9 News | Denver mayor responds to Dougco commissioner’s eminent domain threat

What is happening? Alaska has labor shortages. To address this Alaska employers are building housing for its employees.

Why is this important? Employees have a difficult finding housing in Alaska’s tight real estate and rental market.

How will this be important? Alaska isn’t alone. Colorado employers in resort towns are doing this too.

Governing | To Combat Labor Shortage, Some Alaska Employers Build Housing

What is happening? Portland Maine is urging the State of Maine to create a statewide homeless, unhoused, Taskforce. They Taskforce would include elected officials and staff from local, state and federal government, non-governmental organizations, members of the legal community, real estate developers and others.

Why is this important? Homelessness is a statewide issue.

How will this be important? In addition to the task force, the State should:

• revise General Assistance law
• establish a state resettlement office
• create a statewide emergency shelter system
• address other issues that impact homeless people

Governing | Portland Approves $269M Budget, Homelessness Task Force

What is happening? Massachusetts Senate passed S2030 (2022 | MA) that creates a 5 year moratorium on building new jails. The bill was added to a government infrastructure bill.

Why is this important? Supporters say it is fiscally beneficial, and supports alternative rehabilitation programs.

How will this be important? The state has a goal of not incarcerating nonviolent offenders.

Governing | Massachusetts Senate Passes Ban on Building Prisons, Jails

What is happening? Grass roots group in Corsicana Texas do not want a bitcoin miner in their backyard. They are concerned about their already frail infrastructure and a concern of increasing electricity costs supported by a UC Berkeley study and comments from the Texas Blockchain Council that no company can guarantee rates won’t increase.

Why is this important? One of the world’s largest bitcoin mining centers is being built near Corsicana by  Riot Blockchain. The 256 acres of its property is located at the end of a high-voltage transmission line — known as a switch — that will supply the electricity needed to mine for digital currency. They also have access to water to cool their facility.

How will this be important? “the facility will have a maximum capacity of 1 gigawatt, enough electricity to power 300,000 to 1 million homes in the U.S. That’s over 30% bigger than Riot’s capacity at its existing facility about two hours away in Rockdale.”

Dallas Morning News | ‘We do not want this’: Corsicana group protests Riot Blockchain’s Bitcoin mining facility

What is happening? Tucson, AZ is considering building code changes to support EV adoption.

Why is this important? The new EV building code would require :

• “Developments featuring retail stores, bars, food service, entertainment and personal and technical services with 100 or more parking spaces would be required to install EV charging stations providing service within 6 feet of at least 5 percent of their parking spaces, while another 5 percent of spaces would be required to have “EV Ready” plug-in outlets.”
• “require new commercial property developments to include minimum EV infrastructure ranging from EV-capable prewiring to EV charging stations, depending on each development’s intended land use.”
• ” developments with fewer than 100 required parking spaces would be exempt from the EV equipment requirements”
• Apartment and other multifamily housing developments and hotels would be required to install EV-ready power outlets accessible to at least 10 percent of their parking spaces and make 15 percent of their spaces “EV Capable”
• new commercial developments for administrative and professional, medical and research and development uses would have to be 5 percent EV-ready and 15 percent EV-capable.

How will this be important? The goal is equitable placement of chargers throughout the city

Governing | Are Tucson’s Proposed Electric Vehicle Rules Too Aggressive?

What is happening? Permanent Land use rules in Oregon are expected to eliminate parking space requirements for the largest 8 cities.

Why is this important? The goals of not requiring parking space minimums for homes and businesses are to address climate change, encouraging compact, climate-friendly communities, and “address severe housing shortages by making it easier, safer and more affordable to live and work without a car.”

How will this be important? Mortgage Bankers Association did a study on parking spaces and found that parking spaces outnumber homes 27 to 1 in Jackson, Wyoming; in Seattle, there are 13 people per acre and 29 parking spaces per acre; and Des Moines, Iowa, has 83,141 households and 1.6 million parking spots.

Governing | Less Parking Could Mean More Housing

What is happening? Studios are back, baby! As in studio apartments, single room occupancy (SRO) spaces.

Why is this important? Some see SROs as a way back to affordable living. There are SROs that are so small that a normal height person can stand and touch 2 opposing walls.

How will this be important? Philadelphia is considering  legalize single-room residences in all multifamily and commercial zoning districts. Minneapolis is considering it in its zoning reforms. San Francisco is protecting its remaining SROs.

Governing | SRO Housing, Nearly Zoned Out of Existence, Could Re-Emerge

What is happening? Ohio is looking to improve compensation and access to inverse condemnation claims. HB 698 (2022 | OH)

Why is this important? The bill penalizes coercive action by a condemning entity and awards attorney fees to land owners.

How will this be important? The bill waives sovereign immunity. Bye bye to bully tactics?

Highland County Press | Eminent domain reform bill introduced to protect landowners