The More Eminent Domain, The Better

"Anyone coming into downtown Des Moines today for the first time would find it hard to believe the thriving business district was legally declared a slum just 30 years ago."

Yet thanks to eminent domain and urban renewal, "the taxable value of the core urban-renewal districts downtown has grown by more than $1 billion. And, by the city's calculations, that much more has been invested in public and private projects in just the past five years in those and surrounding downtown districts."

How did they do it? "...a critically important tool used by the city was the power of eminent domain -- the ability to acquire land and buildings through condemnation."