Are there lessons for Pittsburgh here? You try figuring it out. I've never seen something so convoluted. Either way, keep reading: There is a Pittsburgh connection.
A quick run-down: Baltimore is hoping to redevelop a huge chunk in the western part of the city. But a private charitable foundation owns a lot of the property and doesn't seem to want to do things the way city leaders think best. So are we heading for another eminent domain debate? Maybe.
"We owe it to the people of this city to move forward," Chera said. "We were told they have a 'quick take' [condemnation] program. It would be a shame to have this stall indefinitely, and who knows what will happen with the economy?"
Oh yeah? Seizing property is one thing when the current owners operate wig shops, dive bars and check-cashing places. But quite another thing here. And people know it:
Brodie said the city could move to condemn the property.
"That's a last resort," he said. "We never rush forward with eminent domain. With a $2 billion charitable foundation, that's not an easy prospect."
See, $2 billion charitable foundations have lawyers. Good lawyers.
Either way, this is one to watch. The foundation in question does claim to have plans to redevelop the property. So it's not like there's no hope. Which is usually how redevelopment officials justify taking over. Or buying the properties in question.
Nope. Here, the current owner just has different ideas about how to do things right. So who wins? Seems like an epic grudge match.
Oh, and one of the major players in this is Cordish Co. That's the company with big plans for an amphitheater on Pittsburgh's North Side.
This is a good opportunity to see how they do things...
Last, what's a "quick take" condemnation policy? Is that on the books in Baltimore? Who used that language? Because leaders always claim that eminent domain is a "last resort." Does "quick take" sound like last resort to you? Sounds like a job for these guys. Maybe you remember them. I think George Harris does. Wonder if he's still around and what he thinks of the new plans...
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