In-Domainable

In yesterday's NY Sun Dave Lombino did an enlightening piece on some of the problems that are created when an eminent domain process is initiated. These problems transcend the relative merits of the use of this tactic, inhering more to the fairness of its implementation. In the case reviewed by Lombino, the construction of the new NY Times headquarters, the major issues involve the equity of the compensation to the displaced businesses and the timeliness of the compensation process.

The article serves as a warning to legislators who are concerned about the use of ED as a redevelopment tool. As we have been commenting there is a need to craft new legislative parameters, ones that give the displaced homeowners or businesses a better shot at being fairly compensated for their losses (and ones that recognize the extremity of this approach to development).