Is emiment domain a valuable redevelopment tool or a way for government to intimidate landowners?
Critics of redevelopment say there's an inherent conflict in a partnership between a governmental agency and a private developer. However, California officials say redevelopment remains a valuable tool to combat blight and breathe economic vitality into rundown, decaying neighborhoods.
The concept of eminent domain - also known as condemnation - started off as the government's right to take private property for public use. Public-use projects include schools, highways and courthouses.
The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution stipulates that governments pay "just compensation" to land owners.
But in the years following World War II, courts changed the requirement of "public use" to one of "public purpose," and local and state governments began condemning slums in the interest of eliminating blight. "
Thanks to g edward freeman
FULL STORY: Property rights and wrongs

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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