Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Another day, another eminent domain case.

The Trinity River Vision and the Tarrant Regional Water District are taking more land by eminent domain.  Read about it in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

WHO gave the Tarrant Regional Water District authority to eminent domain YOUR land?  You newbies, stay tuned, we'll fill you in soon.

The property is owned by the estate of J.L. Daniel. The estate's Fort Worth attorney, Jim Bradbury, said Tuesday that his client is frustrated by the water district's low-ball tactics.

Bradbury, who wouldn't reveal the amount his client is seeking, said the estate wants a price comparable to what the water district has paid for adjacent parcels.

It's the fifth time that the water district has voted to use eminent domain powers for Trinity River Vision, the $909 million flood control and economic development project that will stretch from the near-north side to Gateway Park.

Once the water district files a case, a county court at law judge appoints three special commissioners to hear the matter. In two previous eminent domain cases, the water district settled with the property owners after hearings in which the commissioners determined the property's market value.

This month, a hearing was held for a third eminent domain case, in which 2.6 acres in the 800 block of North Henderson Street is being condemned for the Henderson Street bridge. The property is the site of Allied Fence of Fort Worth, owned by the Arvin William Turner Jr. Testamentary Trust.

In that hearing, the commissioners put the fair market value of the property at $1.4 million. The Turner trust has until Monday to appeal that finding to a county court at law for trial.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The very talented Mr. Bradbury is not objecting to principles, such as whether eminent domain is properly posessed and used or if the Trinity River Delusion is proper use of hard earned tax dollars. He's just upset that the eminent domain abusers are using this power as a weapon to pay his client less money than they want--not even what they should fairly get, but what amount they want.

They'll get it, too since the guy's a sharp lawyer and the money don't come from JD or his gang of modern day pirates.