Another eminent domain case in Hollywood Florida

I blogged about the City of Hollywood Florida back on Sunday and how eminent domain is being abused in that city. They are doing it again as is reported in today's Sun-Sentinel.

Hat tip- Florida Cracker

By Shannon O'BoyeStaff
WriterJuly 13, 2005

Hollywood * For the second time in a month, the city is using its power of eminent domain to force the sale of private property to benefit a private developer and the city's tax base.

City commissioners on Tuesday agreed to let developer Steve Berman build a second condo tower, this time at the Bank of America parking lot in the 1900 block of Tyler Street, near Young Circle. The first phase of Berman's Radius project, a 14-story, 311-unit condo building, is under construction.

Last month, the city voted to take a small retail building owned by the Mach family for 34 years to make way for a $100 million condo project by developer Charles "Chip" Abele. That decision sparked outrage around the city, and Katalin Mach and her son, David, have vowed to fight to keep their building on Harrison Street and South 19th Avenue.

That did not stop the commission from voting unanimously to force the parking lot sale at the Bank of America. Commissioners said they were moving on it because Berman had an agreement to buy the lot from the owners, but the mortgage holder scuttled the deal.

The lender has several properties around South Florida bundled into one trust and does not want to sell individual parcels.

No members of the public were on hand to voice their opinion about the deal.Berman will pay for the legal costs of eminent domain and the land, which is expected to sell for $800,000 to $900,000. He will also make a $75,000 donation to the city's ArtsPark.

When Commissioner Cathy Anderson asked what the public purpose was, City Attorney Dan Abbott did not hesitate."Economic development," he said, "which is a legitimate public purpose according to the United States Supreme Court."

I beg your pardon Mr. Abbot, this is little more than thievery masquerading as public policy. You are paying developers while they make profits off land you seize. If that's not theft and corruption, I don't know what is.