Comments on: Eye on the Street

By: Another Rick

Another Rick — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 19:05:11 +0000

Tom: I wish I had known last year before the State Senator election that you were a fan of Family Guy! Seriously, though, this is very helpful information on what is going on there.

By: Another Rick

Another Rick — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:30:34 +0000

The revisions/amendment to state law after the Kelso (sp) on subject was presented to the pubic as a way to protect private property rights. I agree (from what little I know, as an observer not an attorney) that the changes actually make it easier to condemn and take. Funny how politics seems to (not) work.

By: UDog

UDog — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 04:19:11 +0000

If AE is familiar with Kelo they certainly wouldn’t buy the property. The City of New London and the State are out $78 million in relocation costs and demo and the developer couldn’t finance the deal because there was no market for it, just like here. Apparently, the property in New London is an empty lot. That’s what the city deserves for flexing it’s power.

By: Cubalibre

Cubalibre — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 03:54:00 +0000

That may be true, and I haven’t looked at those Code sections for some time. However, the sad fact is this: if a governing body wants your property, not even beefed-up definitions of blight in the redevelopment laws are going to stop it– it might present another hurdle for them to get across, but it will simply prolong the process, not keep it from happening. Eminent domain law always has and (barring some fundamental change to the Constitution) always will favor the condemnor, period. Do I think it’s fair? Hell no (especially partial takings, where they only have to pay you for the immediate FMV for the portion of your property they take, and don’t have to take into account any diminution of value that results from the taking). But that’s the way it is.

By: Moose

Moose — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 03:23:22 +0000

Based on your above comment, I’m assuming you’re a lawyer, so I’ll trust your interpretation of the code and caselaw over my own, but if you haven’t looked at O.C.G.A. sections that define blight in “many moons,” some changes have been made specifically in response to the Kelo ruling.

By: Tom Stubbs

Tom Stubbs — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 02:52:52 +0000

FYI, as a fan of Family Guy, I obviously have no taste and, as such, have no comment about the signs, although I do think the way the property is being targeted for annexation is scary. For what it’s worth, though, I do know the owner and something about the property. It’s bad looking, but he assembled all of the properties along there to have a mixed use development. As I understand it, he has marketed the property to a number of folks, including Charles Brewer before he left his group, and several other developers. At this point, the economy is so deep in the toilet that no one will develop anything. So, it may stay in the same condition for a time. However, the long term goal was a development that would be adjacent to Decatur (and right against a MARTA station) with a grocery store and high density housing that, by virtue of being outside the city limits, would be more affordable. Done decently, that would not be a bad addition to our area. I don’t think he got all of the property up to the Avondale Estates city line, but it goes for a stretch down College Avenue towards that point. I may be wrong, but I think he also owns the tire store or whatever that thing is across the street, as well.

By: HDog

HDog — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 23:24:02 +0000

Another interesting note about the Annexation process.

There are several approaches to annexation that involve an actual vote. The one they keep going back to is legislative.
Rep Benefield and AE keep going to the Georgia Delegation and trying to get the 10 votes from the delegates they need to
force annexation down out throats.

It is underhanded and
speaks very strongly to the mean spirited mindset of the bureaucrats that represent everything that is bad about government. Otherwise know as the mayor and his minions at city hall in Avondale Estates

By: Sheep Dog

Sheep Dog — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:16:46 +0000

Only if money is exchanged…