More eminent domain abuse
St. Louis residents getting kicked out for a new shopping center. Worse, is the shopping center will be taxpayer funded:
Smith’s south-city neighborhood near Carondelet Park is about to become the latest of many that the city is looking to grant a TIF, a thirteen-year-old tax-increment financing arrangement that allows developers tax breaks to raise new buildings in so-called blighted areas.
The Desco Development Group, a Clayton-based developer and the Schnuck family’s development company, plans to put a $40 million shopping center called Loughborough Commons on the 30-acre parcel of land at Loughborough and South Grand avenues, adjacent to I-55. Desco spokesman Steve Houston says the firm is looking to build a bigger Schnucks and a Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, and to bring in some smaller retailers. The project has been in the works for eighteen months.
Another case of government taking private land to give to other private parties. That is not public use.
December 2nd, 2004 at 9:50 pm
Hmm… if it IS private use, would that mean the resulting shopping center is a public area? For example, would it mean that the same first amendment protections that apply to parks suddenly apply to this shopping center? I’m guessing the answer is no… after all, the law is never that convenient and gov’t has never had a problem getting you coming and going.