Court Rules Private Land Can Be Seized for NBA Arena [View All]

[WriteDown]

Source: WSJ

New York's highest court ruled Tuesday that it's lawful for a state economic development agency to seize private land to build an arena for a professional basketball team.

The 6-1 ruling by the New York State Court of Appeals allows the contentious $4.9 billion, 22-acre Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn, N.Y., to proceed. The proposed development includes office towers, apartments and a new arena for the NBA's New Jersey Nets.

It's a victory for developers and government entities in New York that have sought to boost local economies with new development. But it is a blow to private-property owners who have argued that they are defenseless in protecting their ownership rights if a government deems their land necessary for eminent domain, or the "public good."

The court's decision echoes a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2005, when the court found it was constitutional for a New London, Conn., economic-development corporation to seize private homes and businesses to build a research campus for Pfizer Inc. That decision, Kelo vs. New London, Conn., set off a firestorm of protest, prompting state lawmakers to amend laws to prevent local governments in those states from seizing private land in some cases......




Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125907445356162357.html?mod=igoogle_wsj_gadgv1&

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Well thank you Kelo!!!!!