(Philadelphia) A stable city firm pushed off the block (eminent domain)

[UpInArms]

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/columnists/12135631.htm

(free registration or try www.bugmenot.com)

When Mayor Street declared his war on blight in Philadelphia, it is unlikely that he imagined the James J. Clearkin construction company as the enemy. The 87-year-old, family-owned business is located just off Castor Avenue in Juniata Park, in a modest, two-story office building that is as sturdy today as it was when the family mortared in the last buff-colored brick in 1950.

Now, as then, the Clearkin company specializes in schools and churches, mostly Catholic ones. It still employs about 45 people. In the last decade, it has paid more than $400,000 in city taxes. But unlike some Philadelphia businesses, Clearkin has no complaint with the assessment. The family would be glad to keep sending their tax checks downtown.

Unfortunately, those payments are due to stop this fall. Using the power of eminent domain, the city seized ownership of Clearkin's building this year, reducing the business to a tenant in its own building. Officials want the family out by the end of September so a local nonprofit group can build 50 subsidized middle-class homes. Residents of the development, which is being built under the mantle of Street's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, won't pay any property taxes until 2017 at the earliest because of a city abatement.

The Clearkins - James Jr., James 3d and Joseph - are so bitter about the city-sponsored foreclosure they have vowed to move their company out of Philadelphia. If they do, they will join other businesses evicted from the development site in decamping to the suburbs.

...more...

(edited for spulling)

[indepat]

1. Only in America, the land of the free and home of the brave, where we

have all these constitutional freedoms and protections. Only in America.

[Megahurtz]

4. Kick.

:kick:

[Gormy Cuss]

2. Let's here it for blight removal!

Quote:Except for Clearkin, "it was all auto-related junk,".... But another was a local landmark, Nino's Italian Market, a collection of greenhouses that supplied the neighborhood with fresh produce.
... Nino's did not survive. Its owners, the Munoz family, ran into serious financial trouble shortly after the city announced its intention to invoke eminent domain. The impending foreclosure meant the family didn't have the normal option of selling the business to raise cash. Instead, they lost their home because it was listed as collateral when they purchased the farm market.

Welcome to the unintended consequences of eminent domain. This kind of story has been in the background of many public works eminent domain cases and it's bound to get worse with the recent SC ruling because now it's money talks.

[cap]

3. everybody thought eminent domain was going to be used

on poor minorities... it's a different story when it is your house/business.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. Poor and minority aren't completely overlapping sets

Low-income people of every race and ethnicity have always been the target of eminent domain because economically they lack power. The SC decision now makes it perfectly legal to go after anyone on the slimmest justification of "public good." I've read the arguments on why this is a good position for liberals, but eminent domain always sucks when it's your house.

[WhiteTara]

6. this is only the beginning

the law was passed only a week ago. Makes me afraid to even look to buy another house!