Eminent Domain Report

Most of the media surrounding eminent domain -- and eminent domain for redevelopment purposes in particular -- involves claims of eminent domain abuse and grass roots efforts to limit the government's ability to condemn property. 

In the City of Ukiah, however, local business owners are apparently taking the opposite stance, urging the City to reinstate its eminent domain powers that lapsed in 2001 to deal with a blight situation that business owners believe are hurting them.  We initially reported on the issues with the Palace Hotel back in Februrary, but a July 9 article in The ...

In the past, we've reported on the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency's condemnation of the historic Hugo Hotel.  It now appears that city officials in Ukiah may utilize a similar playbook and reinstate the redevelopment agency's power of eminent domain in order to acquire the historic 119-year old Palace Hotel.  According to a Press Democrat article, "Ukiah seeks new life for Palace Hotel," the city may turn to eminent domain after decades of unsuccessfully nudging the hotel's Marin County owners to rehabilitate the historic vine-covered building in the heart of downtown.