The El Paso Times reported that several downtown El Paso business owners were surprised to realize that they may soon be forced out of the area. "The plan received several standing ovations from about 900 people almost two weeks ago at its public unveiling at the Plaza Theatre...(but there is a) 127.5-acre Redevelopment District, where business and property owners will be asked to sell out or possibly be forced out by condemnation if needed."
"The plan calls for forming a Real Estate Investment Trust to buy properties in the Redevelopment District. Sanders said the hope is that property and business owners can be presented with a "compelling enough" business proposition and agree to sell "before we have to flex our muscles and use eminent domain (condemnation)."
This could definitely change the landscape of El Paso's downtown.
It is a shame that the disastrous effects of the Kelo decision have reached Texas. I had hoped that the sense of what is right in Texas had not been corrupted. The power of eminent domain should not be available to private interests - even if a city thinks that condemning private property to sell to other (more favored) private interests is in the "public interest".
Posted by: Joseph E. Kean | Friday, May 26, 2006 at 04:00 PM