NY State Decides to Use Eminent Domain in Manhattanville

Five months after state officials found the site "blighted," the Empire State Development Corporation voted to use eminent domain to seize real estate for Columbia's Manhattanville expansion. The Columbia Spectator reports, "The state's decision on Thursday, will allow the state to seize land from two holdouts who have not struck property deals with the University. In exchange, the landowners--Nick Sprayregen, the owner of Tuck-It-Away Storage, and the Singh family, which operates two gas stations in Manhattanville--will receive market rate compensation." But apparently Sprayregen will "file our petition contesting the findings of eminent domain." Photo: Mira (on the wall) on Flickr

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By Jen Chung in News on December 18, 2008 5:05 PM

Comments [rss]

PathToWisdom

Maybe I should use Eminent domain

to build 3 more bridges and a highway

into Manhattan,

that are free of toll.

We know a toll is coming to the bridges

we already use.

We need to build another bridge

that MTA, cannot get its hands on

fugothamist

we'll see what you bitches say when the govt comes to grab your property

o wait, u probably rent

NannyState

OMG, they're threatening the Tuck-It-Away Storage. We need to form a human chain around it and stop the evil bulldozers!

henricus

This is the right thing considering the last two holdouts were simply trying to gain more money by waiting longer. Unfortunately for them the economic downturn crapped on their plans.

I suggest you get off the 1 train at 125 and take a walk through this neighborhood sometime. It's a place any sane person wouldn't walk through at night and is one of the most poorly maintained neighborhoods in the city. Chops shops are just about all that populate this area (save Dinosaur BBQ and nearby Fairway, which get to stay). Columbia needs to expand its science campus, and this is one thing eminent domain was meant for: bettering people as a whole, in this case through new laboratories, which means increased funding and an increased number of jobs.

Toby von Meistersinger

Why doesn't the city eminent domain Columbia? I am sure they can get a huge hunk of money selling it.

barryap

Misleading photo much? How about showing the part of Manhattanville that Columbia actually wants to develop, which actually looks blighted?

ides_of_march

Eminent domain = theft of of private property by the government. But thanks to Supreme Court, that now extends to theft of private property by rich and politically-connected private developers.

Guess who decides "market rate" btw? The people who want to seize your property.

The Founding Fathers weep.