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The city of Norwood, Ohio used its power of eminent domain to take an 11 acre site in a deteriorating neighborhood and turn it over to a private developer. The plan was to build a 125 million dollar shopping and office complex. Seventy homeowners sold but three fought the case in court. A lower court offered 3 times the appraised value of the houses but the homeowners fought on to the Ohio Supreme Court.
The U.S. Supreme court had ruled in favor of similar economic takings in Kelo v New London, Connecticut. The Ohio Supreme ruled in favor of property rights, unanimously rejecting the U.S. Kelo ruling.
The homeowners castles have been returned. After a three year court battle, the three dilapidated structures are the only houses still standing on the site next to a busy highway.
I'm wondering about the appraised value on those "dilapated structures." Would three times that value be enough to push the potential future mall shoppers and business people out of their homes and neighborhoods?