Eminent Domain Backlash Grows

An unexpected populist backlash against the Supreme Court's eminent domain ruling threatens a variety of projects that depend on the use of eminent domain.

1 minute read

August 4, 2005, 7:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"In the six weeks since the Supreme Court's ruling in the Kelo v. New London case, bills have been introduced in Congress and in more than half of the state legislatures that would restrict, to varying degrees, the use of eminent domain for private development. Delaware has gone the furthest, passing a law restricting the use of eminent domain. In Alabama, legislation curbing eminent domain for economic purposes has passed both houses and awaits the governor's signature. Real-estate and economic-development officials are growing increasingly concerned that the backlash will block more projects, potentially causing big losses for developers and canceling long-planned projects."

[Editor's note: The link below is available to non-subscribers for seven days.]

Thanks to Chris Steins

Wednesday, August 3, 2005 in Wall St. Journal

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