InfoHive – Eminent Domain

What’s happening? Some moons ago, post Black Lives Matter, in the new world we have before us, Knoxville created a task force to consider the amount of reparations to the Black Community for the forced urban removal that the Black Community endured.

Why is this important? Urban “renewal” efforts disproportionately impacted Black and Biopic communities and removed them from their communities. Knoxville is committing $100 million funded through grants that still must be secured.

How will this be important? Knoxville will offer resources to help livelihoods and open opportunities to build generational wealth.

KnoxNews | Knoxville finalizes task force that will shape urban removal funding for Black residents

What’s happening? NYC Council is considering requiring disclosure of the sale of vacant buildings so that the City has first choice to buy the property in stead of using eminent domain to acquire property to build schools, or municipal works.

Why is this important? Cities across the country are talking about using eminent domain to acquire affordable housing or house homeless populations. Giving the city the option to buy it first makes it easier for the City.

How will this be important? Real Estate attorneys say it will slow down deal making.

Commerical Observer | Bill Would Require NYC to Be Notified of Certain Vacant Property Sales

What’s happening? Alameda Co., CA wants to build wildlife bridges over I-580. That’s going to take acquiring some easements across land. So, to get to that point, Alameda County created the Altamont Landfill Open Space Committee to build trust.

Why is this important? Before talk of easements, the local county government is building relationships, and considering options like incentivize participation through a Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) system.

How will this be important? Let’s look at what the county officials are saying: “We will not be part of eminent domain, because we don’t want the landowners to feel that we’re targeting them in a bad way. Our intentions are not to restrict what people do. This is all voluntary, and they can be paid to protect and make money off the land in a way that they’re not making now.”

Independent News | Committee Aims to Grow Trust with Landowners

What’s happening? After the condo collapse in Surfside, FL, the state bar of Florida will organize a committee to review and recommend to the Governor and Legislature.

Why is this important? In Florida after initial building approval, the recertification occurs at year 40 with no inspection visits in between year 0 and year 45.

How will this be important? The Committee is being hired by the same person who chaired a similar committee bout homeowner associations while Gov. Jeb Bush was in office.

WSJ | After Florida Building Collapse, Task Force to Consider Changes to Condo Laws

What’s happening? Texas Governor announced that the state will build a border wall at the Texas- Mexico Border using state and private funds. The hurdle is acquiring the mostly private lands. To that end, quote from the Governor: ” …the combination of state land as well as volunteer land will yield hundreds of miles to build a border wall in Texas.”

Why is this important? The federal lawsuit concerning the use of eminent domain to build the federal U.S.-Mexico border wall is currently on hold.

How will this be important? Begs the question whether a state built International border wall project can exercise the power of eminent domain.

Construction Dive | Texas prepares to take bids for border wall construction

What’s happening? California Legislature agreed to convert former hotels into permanent homeless housing with federal coronavirus relief dollars & will provide another $2 billion over 2 years to local governments

Why is this important? Other localities, like Ausitn, TX are considering purchasing existing facilities to house homeless.

How will this be important? This serves as a blueprint to address homelessness, if the programs are successful.

Los Angeles Times via Governing | California Set to Spend Record Amount on Homelessness

What’s happening? Amazon is donating $40 million to Arlington County, Va to build affordable housing around its 2nd HQ

Why is this important? Amazon has pledged $2 billion for affordable housing near its facilities in Virginia, Seattle and Nashville, Tenn

How will this be important? We just talked about Apple having a similar program to build affordable housing. If there’s 1, then there’s 2, and soon there will be 100 companies following suit.

The Hill | Amazon donating land to Northern Virginia county for affordable housing

What’s happening? A consideration that National heritage Site Designations can preserve and protect rural property.

Why is this important? Think o the major eminent domain battles- pipelines, border walls, rail lines- the majority of the property at issue is rural property.

How will this be important? We’ve seen the use of conservation easements to protect property, and this proposal is another tool in the tool belt.

Kansas Reflector | Kansas heritage sites can help save rural communities

What’s happening? There is a “current [federal] rule that prohibits property acquisition for affordable housing use in the first 10 years after a change in the property’s ownership”

Why is this important? it is seen as an obstacle to building new affordable housing.

How will this be important? Whether states follow suit to change laws that make affordable housing easier to be built.

Daily Camera | Rep. Joe Neguse proposing affordable housing bills

What’s happening? Apple is putting $1Billion into affordable housing around California.

Why is this important? Apple has a $2.5 Billion commitment to improve affordability of housing in California.

How will this be important? Apple’s project includes “new housing development and construction, assisted first-time buyers purchase homes, and expanded programs to reduce homelessness”

Apple | Apple deploys $1 billion in affordable housing support across California